UN Palestine peace conference suspended amid regional escalation    Egypt advances integrated waste management city in 10th of Ramadan with World Bank support    Hyatt, Egypt's ADD Developments sign MoU for hotel expansion    Serbian PM calls trade deal a 'new page' in Egypt ties    Reforms make Egypt 'land of opportunity,' business leader tells Serbia    TMG climbs to 4th in Forbes' Top 50 Public Companies in Egypt' list on surging sales, assets    Egypt, Japan's JICA plan school expansion – Cabinet    Egypt's EDA, AstraZeneca discuss local manufacturing    Israel intensifies strikes on Tehran as Iran vows retaliation, global leaders call for de-escalation    Egypt issues nearly 20 million digital treatment approvals as health insurance digitalisation accelerates    LTRA, Rehla Rides forge public–private partnership for smart transport    Egyptian pound rebounds at June 16 close – CBE    China's fixed asset investment surges in Jan–May    Egypt secures €21m EU grant for low-carbon transition    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt, Cyprus discuss regional escalation, urge return to Iran-US talks    Egypt nuclear authority: No radiation rise amid regional unrest    Grand Egyptian Museum opening delayed to Q4    Egypt delays Grand Museum opening to Q4 amid regional tensions    Egypt slams Israeli strike on Iran, warns of regional chaos    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's EDA joins high-level Africa-Europe medicines regulatory talks    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Egypt, Serbia explore cultural cooperation in heritage, tourism    Egypt discovers three New Kingdom tombs in Luxor's Dra' Abu El-Naga    Egypt launches "Memory of the City" app to document urban history    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



European clubs oppose World Cup expansion
Reuters Published in Ahram Online on 15 - 12 - 2016

Europe's powerful football clubs have told soccer governing body FIFA that they are opposed to plans to expand the World Cup from its current 32 teams.
Gianni Infantino, the president of the FIFA Council, has said he wants to increase the four-yearly tournament to 48 teams from 2026 and the FIFA Council is expected to reach a decision at its next meeting in January.
However, the European Club Association (ECA), which represents more than 200 clubs, said it was against any expansion.
"The number of games being played throughout the year has already reached an unacceptable level, in particular for national team players," said an ECA statement.
"The ECA Executive Board therefore rejects such initiative and has today sent a letter to Gianni Infantino calling on FIFA not to increase the number of participants at future World Cups."
ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge added: "We have to focus on the sport again. Politics and commerce should not be the exclusive priority in football.
"In the interest of the fans and the players, we urge FIFA not to increase the number of world cup participants."
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)

Clic here to read the story from its source.