Skip to main content

IOC voices concerns over FIFA’s push for World Cup every two years: Further massive strain on athlete welfare

The International Olympic Committee said on Saturday it has “concerns” about FIFA’s push for soccer World Cups every two years.

Though IOC President Thomas Bach said last month “we will not interfere in this discussion,” his organization stepped in on Saturday after meeting in Athens to detail objections it shared with soccer stakeholders.

Clashes in the schedule with other sports, the men’s World Cup overshadowing women’s editions of the tournament, and “a further massive strain” on athlete welfare were all cited in an IOC statement after an executive board meeting.

The IOC did not refer to potential future World Cup-Olympics clashes – potentially as soon as 2028 when the Summer Games are hosted by Los Angeles – in its statement.

The IOC did criticize FIFA’s tactics in promoting the biennial World Cup project by noting a wider consultation across soccer “has obviously not taken place”.

FIFA revealed its detailed plan last month, after meeting with retired players, to redraft the calendar of international soccer competitions with biennial World Cups for men and women at the heart.

The proposal strongly backed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino was announced before formally consulting member federations in the World Cup strongholds of Europe and South America.

Those regions’ governing bodies, UEFA and CONMEBOL, have warned of a World Cup boycott if FIFA pushes ahead with a plan that would undermine their continental championships, which are organized on the same four-year cycle as the IOC’s Summer Games. All are next due in 2024.

The IOC cited “tennis, cycling, golf, gymnastics, swimming, athletics, Formula One and many others” as sports which would be affected by more World Cups.

“This would undermine the diversity and development of sports other than football,” the Olympic body said.

FIFA, whose next scheduled World Cups are in 2022 and 2026, has not specified wanting to stay on even-numbered years for a biennial men’s World Cup. A switch to odd-numbered years, possibly starting in 2029, could be proposed.

At an Olympic briefing after an executive board meeting, spokesman Mark Adams was asked if Infantino, who is an IOC member, had talked with Bach about the biennial World Cup plan before going public with it.

Adams said he could not give details though the IOC kept in touch with sports governing bodies.

When asked last month about FIFA’s plans at an IOC news conference, Bach suggested “contributions of the continental associations” — such as UEFA and CONMEBOL — were making the issues clear.

FIFA has not set a formal date for a decision on its World Cup proposal, though has suggested a meeting of its 211 national members could be held in December.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

SKM defers tractor rally to Parliament, to announce next plan of action on Dec 4

With the Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021 set to be tabled in the Winter Session of Parliament, the core committee of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) said on Saturday that they will announce their next course of action on December 4. Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021 aims to roll back the three contentious farm laws passed by Parliament last year. In the business listed on the website of Lok Sabha, it is mentioned that Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar will move to introduce a Bill to repeal 2020 Farm Bills. The minister will also move to amend the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Members of the SKM’s core committee, which met earlier in the day, said they want to analyse the statement released by Narendra Singh Tomar. They will decide on their future plan of action after going through the Bill. ALSO READ | Law wapasi but no ghar wapasi yet: How protesting farmers may be testing Modi govt Meanwhile, the farmer unions’ umbrella body has decided to postpone farmers’ tractor rally to Pa...

Actor surrounded by fans during the shooting of Warrior clicked a selfie

Sidharth Malhotra is currently busy shooting for his upcoming film ‘Yodha’. The next schedule of Yodha is being shot in Delhi, due to which Sidharth Malhotra reached India Gate to shoot, a video of which has surfaced. In this video, people reached there during the shooting of the film. Seeing the shooting, the fans requested to meet Siddharth. In the video, Siddharth Malhotra was seen meeting his fans. Siddharth is looking handsome in a black T-shirt and trousers. At the same time, his fans are very happy to meet him. During this, Siddharth shook hands with the people and also took photos with them. Let us tell you, the Siddharth Malhotra starrer film Yoddha is going to be released on November 11. watch video

Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt protest in Ujjain, Hindu organizations protest outside Mahakal temple, return without seeing

Ujjain. Ujjain. Actor Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt was opposed by Hindu organizations in the Dham of the world famous Jyotirlinga Baba Mahakal. Ranbir and Alia could not reach the temple due to the protest. However, amidst heavy protests, film director Ayan Mukerji and the production team visited the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Ranbir and Alia had to return to Indore due to security. In fact, as soon as the Hindu organizations came to know about Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt’s arrival at the Mahakal temple at 7 pm on Tuesday, they became alert. From 4 pm onwards, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal workers started gathering around the VIP entrance, before the time of the actors’ arrival outside the temple. The police did not even know about it. As soon as the production team and the officers’ vehicle reached the entrance on time, the workers of the Hindu organization started shouting slogans. Showed black flags and demonstrated. When the police wanted t...