The phlegmatic announcement that unleashed the storm: “The Premier League will not yield to the South American players who compete in their teams to those selected for the triple round of the Eliminatory.” The Spanish midwife, two steps back: “LaLiga will support in all areas the decision of Spanish clubs not to release their international players for the Conmebol call and will take relevant legal action against this measure that affects the integrity of the competition” .
The backlash: “Fifa threatened to apply sanctions to federations or other institutions that do not deliver their players for World Cup qualifying matches.”
(Also read: Juan Fernando Quintero puts his music back on the Colombian National Team)
Fifa put the revolver on the table, but nobody was fazed. On the contrary, Italy and Portugal joined the rebellion. You have to see how it ends, if the footballers come tomorrow or not, although it is already the biggest uprising against the football matrix in its 117 years of existence. They dared him, they challenged his authority and what was stipulated in his statute. In the times of Havelange, the Brazilian of Belgian blood would have drawn the ax and applied a bloody sanction, but from Fifa to here the Zurich entity lost prestige and power. And Gianni Infantino does not attract the support or respect of his predecessors. Florentino Pérez already announced the European Super League with an unprecedented impudence. It did not prosper, but it was clear that he and other club presidents did not give a damn about the established order.
“If the South American footballers who play in England, Spain, Italy and Portugal are not allowed to come to their national teams, it would not only be a disastrous precedent, Infantino would end up executed.”
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If indeed the South American footballers who act in England, Spain, Italy and Portugal are not allowed to come to defend their teams, it would not only be a disastrous precedent, Infantino would end up as Louis XVI, executed. Fifa would become a tilinga entity and would be the end of the football organization as we know it. Which, better or worse, has been working for 117 years.
“Relevant legal actions”. What petulance! The Spanish League, like the Premier or the Italian Serie A have no authority to oppose Fifa. As if the Dimayor was stiff against the football matrix. The leagues are below their associations, they are internal organs of these. The affiliates of Fifa are the associations. And at the time of joining they declared to accept the rules of associated football. The British invented this game and the English Association is the first in the world of its kind – from 1863 – but in 1905 it applied to join Fifa, which had been created by seven other countries. Because, it is worth clarifying, Fifa is not affiliated with the English association, it is the other way around. The same is with its 210 fellow men from around the world. Associated football is a pyramid principle whose head is Fifa. This is the structure. If someone does not agree, they can leave; and if you want to stay you must abide by the rules.
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These, approved by Congress – the highest instance of Fifa – establish an international calendar for club and national team competitions. And they determine which tournaments are official at the national level. Officials – World Cup, Continental Cups and Confederations Cup – must be respected. That is why the clubs are free to deny their members, if they wish, for the Olympic Tournament or the World Cups with an age limit (U-20, U-17).
“But the players belong to the clubs”, it is wielded. For competitions between clubs yes; at the national team level they belong to their country. Neymar is due to Paris Saint Germain while his contract lasts, to Brazil he is united forever. He can no longer play for another flag. Fifa even gives a compensation to the teams for giving up their professionals in the World Cups. Uefa does the same when they dispute the Eurocup. And associations pay prizes to footballers when they play for their national teams. Everything is thought out and agreed. The Premier League cannot decide whether to release the South American players or not. These are free to go. And you can’t penalize them for doing so or take any coercive action when they return from Playoff. The English, so scrupulously regulative, know this. His ad was a bravado, if it happens, go for more.
Infantino, in a position of surprising weakness, turned to the good faith of Boris Johnson, the English prime minister. He sent him a little letter: “Boris dear, I ask you for this gaucho, release the boys …” The tone was more than courteous, almost imploring.
(We invite you to read: Grigori Méndez: ‘Before pressure, I have confidence and conviction’)
All this mess – of real seriousness – is because the English clubs could not use these players until ten days after having returned to the country due to the mandatory quarantine that England has imposed for those who travel abroad. If they are required to isolate themselves, the players would miss two championship games, a round of Uefa competitions and the third round of the League Cup.
The Premier League has an inflexible rule: it does not allow the hiring of foreign non-national players. This is to keep the bar of quality high and so that the championship, a refined and cared for product, is not desecrated with mediocrity. And then you don’t want to allow them to play for your national team? When a player defends his team, his price increases, that is, it is a benefit for his club. If a club sells to a league champion footballer it has a price, if it sells to a world champion that value is multiplied.
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Argentina and Brazil would be the hardest hit if the players from Europe do not lend.
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Club football divides, national football unites. That is why he is so passionate, because he is invested with nationality, identity and roots. It represents in a way the character and talent of the country. Apart from that, in the international arena, national team competitions were born much earlier than club competitions. The Copa América started in 1916, the Libertadores in 1960. In Europe it was the same. However, the current axis of power passes through the fifteen or twenty European elite clubs. And they are unruly with UEFA and Fifa.
(In other news: The curious reflection of Egan Bernal during the Tour of Spain)
South America, poor thing, was dwarfed like never before. And Conmebol did not open her mouth. Europe runs this industry, from here we send workers. Every time less. This is the picture. But those workers will save the clothes: they will come and the triple date will be played. Because footballers have more power than the Premier League and Fifa itself. And no one will dare to sanction them. Watch out: they save the situation, not Infantino’s head.
Last tango …
Jorge Barraza
For the time
@JorgeBarrazaOK
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