UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin has once again underlined his opposition to FIFA'S proposal of hosting the Mundial every two years, saying the tournament's rarity is its most attractive and appealing quality.
The move comes from following a request from the Saudi Arabian FA in may 2021 which has been approved by 166 other national associations.
Ceferin in a letter penned to a fans' group last week expressed his ‘grave concerns' about FIFA's plans – which was just endorsed by FIFA's head of global development, Arsene Wenger last week.
The UEFA numero uno at the opening of the European Club Association (ECA) General Assembly on Monday, said that hosting the football showpiece every two years ‘would dilute the tournament'.
“Holding it every two years will lead to less legitimacy and dilute the World Cup itself.”
“We think there is a space for everything and both national teams and clubs are fully occupying that physical and commercial space.”
Ceferin also highlighted his concerns over the impact on players, adding: “They don't need to see more of their summers spent on consuming tournaments rather than devoted to relaxing and recuperation.” Ceferin said.
Meanwhile, FIFA president, Gianni Infantino insisted the ECA clubs, and all of football's stakeholders would be consulted but insisted there was overwhelming evidence for a need to alter the calendar.
“We shouldn't take this consultation process as any sort of challenge, any sort of fight, as I've been hearing here and there.”
“It is simply a way to try to make football, and global football, strong, and for this, we need the help and the assistance of everyone.*
“We are, and we will be, approaching you and we hope we can find something which suits, of course, the European clubs but also the clubs from all over the world, the associations from all over the world.”
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 years ago
