FIFA said that clubs will be paid a total of £142M ($212M) "for releasing players for each of the next two World Cups," according to Richard Conway of the BBC. The deal "covers the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the winter tournament to be held in Qatar four years later." The agreement, which aims for stronger integration between int'l and club football, "is a significant increase" on the current deal of £47M ($70M). It comes as the U.S. "emerged as early favourites to host the 2026 World Cup" pending a decision in '17 (BBC, 3/20). REUTERS' Brian Homewood wrote clubs "will also be given a greater say in drawing up the international match calendar, which allocates the dates for club and national team matches, following the agreement between FIFA and the European Clubs' Association." The move "appeared to placate the European clubs who had said they would demand compensation if the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was staged in November and December." ECA President Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said, "In serious and fair negotiations, the ECA has agreed with FIFA on a transparent economic and organizational cooperation until 2022" (REUTERS, 3/20).
COVERING LOSSES: In Sydney, Ray Gatt wrote Football Federation Australia "will consider asking for financial compensation from FIFA" after it announced that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be switched to winter with a Dec. 18 final. Those leagues affected by the switch, which will see the Cup start on Nov. 21 and end on Dec. 18, making it a 28-day event instead of the normal 32 days, "will need to incorporate a break in their competitions." The A-League, for instance, "will have to put at least 20 games on hold." FFA "will still look at its options in terms of seeking financial compensation from FIFA." An FFA official said, "This scheduling would impact on the A-League and affect fans, clubs and the normal commercial operations of the competition." There are no indications how much FFA "would seek from FIFA" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 3/21). REUTERS' Tim Hanlon wrote the European Professional Football Leagues Association Chair Frederic Thiriez said that the EPFL "would back legal action against FIFA over the scheduling of the 2022 World Cup." Thiriez, who is also president of the French football league, said, "We are very disappointed with the decision of the FIFA Executive Committee to move the World Cup to November and December. It will cause serious damage from a sporting and financial point of view and it raises serious questions about the people involved in the decision-making process. ... The EPFL is ready to support any legal action which individual leagues may take in the future" (REUTERS, 3/21).
