The decision-making process that led FIFA to increase the number of teams at the World Cup to 48 "is unacceptable," European Club Association Chair Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said, according to Karolos Grohmann of REUTERS. The ECA, which represents 220 football clubs, opposes the FIFA decision which Rummenigge previously dismissed as "nonsense." The Bayern Munich CEO said on Tuesday that there were "also issues with transparency in that specific FIFA process, without elaborating." He said, "I believe it is quite clear FIFA knows we are unhappy that they increased the number of participants by 50 percent. This is a fact. The way of the decision-making and the transparency was not acceptable from our point of view" (REUTERS, 3/28).
WORLDWIDE HUBS: INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL's Samindra Kunti reported former Belgian FA (KBVB) CEO Steven Martens will become FIFA’s technical director. His move to the world governing body "is an interesting if somewhat peculiar appointment" in a global role that currently "looks to be lacking in definition and objective." Martens will be tasked to "stimulate the game and its growth on a global level." He will also seek to improve the quality of coaching and youth development. The Belgian will work alongside Marco van Basten, who was appointed FIFA’s chief officer for technical development last September. Local newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws reported that Martens "did not resign voluntarily, but was pushed to the exit door" by KBVB Chair François De Keersmaecker. Martens received a severance payment of €336,000 ($363,000), the equivalent of his annual salary, according to the report (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 3/28).