European Club Association President Karl-Heinz Rummenigge described FIFA's 48-team World Cup as "nonsense" on Monday and warned football's governing body that "the balance of power in the sport was shifting towards his members," according to Brian Homewood of REUTERS. However, Rummenigge, whose organization represents 220 clubs, "played down suggestions that clubs could rebel" against FIFA by "refusing to release players for international matches and tournaments." He said, "The increase from 32 to 48 teams is actually nonsense, we had a format which everyone was happy with. At the end of the day, there are the top clubs such as Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, the big Spanish and English clubs, Paris St. Germain, Juventus. That is a shift of power that neither UEFA or FIFA can stop and things have changed dramatically in the last few years." FIFA voted earlier this month to "increase the size of the World Cup from 32 teams to 48" from '26. Rummenigge: "FIFA need to step away from politics and from finance and pay more attention to football. The World Cup is a most extraordinary event, it's the biggest sports event in the world and FIFA must deal with this matter in a more responsible matter and more democratic" (REUTERS, 1/30).
