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published photo, Reuters
166 FIFA members voted in favor of holding the tournament every two years
The International Football Association – FIFA – plans to hold the World Cup every two years instead of the current system, which requires the competition to take place every four years, an idea that has provoked mixed reactions among conciliators, opponents and conservatives.
Renowned French coach Arsène Wenger is leading the implementation of the proposal due to his role as FIFA’s World Football Development Manager.
Wenger, who coached Arsenal for 22 years, recently met with England manager Gareth Southgate to discuss the proposal. Southgate said he was open to all ideas, not for or against the idea, but said: “It’s a proposal that needs more thought.”
Some leaders of major European clubs have opposed the idea of holding the World Cup every two years, believing that holding the tournament every two years would reduce the privacy of the tournament and put players’ health at risk.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin raised the issue in front of 160 club representatives at the European Club Association’s general assembly in Geneva, saying: “The World Cup has a special status as a gem in because of its rarity.
As for the president of the European Club Association, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, he warned that the health of the players would be affected by the implementation of this proposal, saying: “The pressure of matches, and the disruption of some of the between them endangers the health and well-being of the players.
What does FIFA say?
In May, the Saudi Football Association submitted a proposal to host the world championship every two years, which was supported by the annual meeting of the FIFA Congress, where 166 members voted for and 22 against.
“Consulting this idea is just a way to make football and world football strong, so we need everyone’s help,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“It shouldn’t be seen as a challenge or a fight, we have to give football fans more motivation to love the game,” Infantino added.
The International Football Association is studying the feasibility of this proposal, and Infantino confirms that the doors of FIFA are open to any proposal or idea.
In the English Guardian newspaper, writer Sean Engel addressed this proposal and the positions against it, reviewing the positions of Manchester City and Welsh player Gareth Bale who reject the establishment of the World Cup all every two years.
Manchester City general manager Ferran Soriano warned the proposal would hurt players: “There is no time for the players for more, no time at all. The players cannot play more games, that’s for sure, ”he said.
2018 World Cup in numbers
Welsh national team and Real Madrid player Gareth Bale believes that holding the tournament every two years will lose its luster, as he said: “I don’t like the idea of both holding the tournament years, and that will lose part of its history. Holding the World Cup in its current form, and waiting for it to happen every four years makes it a prestigious tournament. ” .
And Sean Engel in The Guardian adds that Arsene Wenger proposed a vote on the proposal next December, before it goes into effect after 2024.
What bothers the clubs, not only is Wenger inviting a number of coaches and former players – like John Terry and Yaya Touré – to Qatar to discuss the controversial proposal next Thursday, but it’s also that FIFA is expecting the opinion of the European Club. Association.
The FIFA Men’s World Cup has been held every four years since the launch of the first edition in 1930, with the exception of the 1942 and 1946 editions, which were not played due to World War II, and the women’s edition has also taken place every four years since its launch in 1991.
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