Supporters’ organizations around the world have expressed opposition to the organization of the World Cup every two years, a reform that FIFA is considering, but which “threatens the balance between competitions”, reports AFP.
“The vast majority of supporters oppose the organization of a World Cup every two years,” said in a statement about fifty fan groups from six different confederations, including French, English, Italian and Brazilian organizations.
“Such a decision threatens to destroy the already fragile balance between local, national, continental and international competitions, as well as an already overloaded schedule,” added supporters, indicating that they love the World Cup “precisely because it is an extraordinary event.”
The debate on this topic was relaunched in recent days in the daily L’Equipe by former coach Arscne Wenger, the current director for football development at FIFA, who proposed a major competition reserved for national teams, alternating the World Cup and EURO, for example, for the European Confederation.
However, UEFA opposes the idea, saying it will “dilute” the “jewel” of world football, according to its president, Aleksander Ceferin.
Fans also claim that they have “neither the time, nor the money, nor the ability to travel to another part of the planet every 24 months, in a devalued competition with half-empty stadiums.”
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