LAUSANNE, SWITZERLANDÂ (AFP) - Fifa president Gianni Infantino was dealt a blow on Wednesday (May 22) when world football's governing body shelved a proposed expansion of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams.
Fifa dumped the plans "following a thorough and comprehensive consultation process" which led to the conclusion that "under the current circumstances such a proposal could not be made now".
"(The tournament) will therefore remain as originally planned with 32 teams and no proposal will be submitted at the next Fifa Congress on June 5," Fifa said in a statement.
The expansion was a pet project of Infantino, who pushed the idea despite the likely need for Qatar's neighbours to put aside a two-year blockade and help host the tournament.
"The involvement of these countries in the organisation of the tournament jointly with Qatar implies the lifting of this blockade, in particular the lifting of restrictions on the movement of people and goods," said a feasibility study submitted to March's Fifa Congress in Miami.
The study, seen by AFP, also claimed that a Qatar World Cup with 48 teams would generate "between US$300 and US$400 million (S$414 and S$552 million) of additional income".
Specifically, Fifa was counting on an additional US$120 million in TV rights, US$150 million in marketing rights and US$90 million from ticket sales.
The news comes after Europe's top football clubs said in March they would boycott an expanded 24-team Club World Cup - also backed by Infantino - which is planned to take place between June 17 and July 4, 2021, replacing the Confederations Cup international tournament.
Â
Â
COMPLICATED PROPOSITION
An announcement of the final decision hadn't been expected until next month's congress, which is being held in Paris ahead of the Women's World Cup taking place in France between June 7 and July 7.
However, the statement said that the study "concluded that due to the advanced stage of preparations and the need for a detailed assessment of the potential logistical impact on the host country, more time would be required and a decision could not be taken before the deadline of June".
Fifa has dropped the idea despite recommending in March that the number of teams should be raised to 48 for 2022, ahead of the planned 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Expanding the competition for the 2022 tournament was always a complicated proposition.
Fifa had sounded out potential co-hosts in the region willing to support Qatar, a complicated proposition for Doha which is subject to an ongoing embargo by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and their allies.
Last week, Hassan al-Thawadi, the secretary general of Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, said that a feasibility study jointly carried out by Fifa and Qatar would favour "expansion to other countries".
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain cut all ties with Doha in June 2017, accusing Qatar of supporting Iran and Islamist groups.
Qatar denies the charges and says Saudi Arabia and its allies aim to incite government change in the emirate, the world's largest exporter of liquified natural gas.
Gulf states Kuwait and Oman have not taken sides in the crisis. However, in April, Oman announced it was "not ready" to host matches.
Atletico Madrid needed Thomas Lemar to come off the bench and score an 85th-minute winner against Eibar on Saturday as they stretched their lead over Real Madrid to seven points in La Liga. Real play at home to in-form Athletic Bilbao on Sunday but Atletico took another step towards finishing above their city rivals for a second consecutive
Atletico extend lead over Real with narrow win over Eibar | IOL
Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min wanted a transfer back to Germany after struggling in his debut season at the Premier League club but stayed put after a conversation with manager Mauricio Pochettino, the South Korea international has said.
Son contemplated Tottenham exit until discussion with Pochettino
Hannes H. Gissurarson Lessons for Europe from the 2008 Icelandic bank collapse 10 11 New Direction - The Foundation for European Reform
Sport's News. We do it our way, says Klopp after another late Liverpool win
Man City's De Bruyne Upbeat as He Bids to Put Injuries Behind Him Kevin De Bruyne's timely return to action for Manchester City is a major boost for Pep Guardiola as his team brace for a punishing programme over the festive period.
Man City's De Bruyne upbeat as he bids to put injuries behind
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk in doubt for Leicester game Liverpool have limited options in defence with right back Trent Alexander-Arnold needing more time to recover from a knee injury and James Milner suspended.
Virgil van Dijk a doubt for Liverpool ahead of Leicester clash
Barcelona put one hand on La Liga title after edging past Sociedad Barca lead the standings on 77 points after 33 games, comfortably clear of nearest challengers Atletico Madrid who won 1-0 at
Barca put one hand on title after edging past Sociedad
Newcastle United beat Blackburn Rovers 4-2 after extra time while Championship side StokeCity threw away a two-goal lead as they suffered a shock 3-2 home defeat by third-tier ShrewsburyTown in FA
FA Cup: Newcastle get extra-time win, Stoke fall to
Find live NCAA Football scores, NCAA Football player & team news, NCAA Football videos, rumors, stats, standings, team schedules and more on FOX Sports.
Football: Liverpool title bid hit by Matip injury. Cameroon centre-back Matip had started the Reds' last three matches and his injury is blow to Liverpool's hopes of remaining on top of the
Football: Liverpool title bid hit by Matip injury | USA
usasportsradar.com/soccer/football-liverpool-title-bid-hit-by-matip-injury/
Football: Liverpool title bid hit by Matip injury December 12, 2018 LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool defender Joel Matip will be out of action for up to six weeks after suffering a fractured collarbone.
Liverpool title bid hit by Matip injury - Pulse Nigeria
MILAN, May 26 (Reuters) - Former European Cup winners AC Milan endured a bittersweet 3-2 win at SPAL in the last round of the Serie A, finishing the campaign outside the top four after their
Soccer-AC Milan miss out on top-four finish despite SPAL win
Socceroos bounce back with solid win over Palestine as they comfortably contained a Palestinian outfit forced to come out of their shell to chase the game. bounce back with solid win over
Palestine 0 Australia 3: Maclaren and Mabil help Socceroos
Neymar will miss both legs of Paris Saint-Germain's upcoming Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester United after the French club confirmed Wednesday that the world's most expensive player would be out for 10 weeks with a metatarsal injury.
Neymar to miss Manchester United tie in Champions League
Son Heung-min helps South Korea beat China 2-0 at Asian Cup. half but couldn't end Iran's 23-year unbeaten run in Asian Cup group games. Son scores late to earn Spurs 1-0 win over
AFC Asian Cup 2019: Son Heung-min helps South Korea beat
Football: Watford's Andre Gray strikes late winner to spoil
0 comments:
Post a Comment