EPFL, FIFA will work cooperate in club-limit discussions

FIFA's debate about cutting the top European leagues to 18 clubs is on hold after FIFA members met with club representatives Thursday.

FIFA told the club members the decision to cut is not a binding one.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter's plan to reduce numbers starting with the 2007-08 season was endorsed at a FIFA Congress in June. That sparked a dispute between Blatter and leagues in countries such as England, Spain and Italy. Those leagues, as well as France, have 20 teams in the top divisions.

After initially threatening to fight Blatter over the issue, the leagues – represented by the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) – decided to cooperate with FIFA after being told the decision was not final.

"FIFA has stated that an imposition for leagues to reduce to 18 clubs does not exist," the EPFL said in a faxed statement to Reuters. "It is rather an open discussion being considered by a FIFA task force within the context of a review of the international match calendar."

The EPFL added that it accepted a FIFA offer to have a representative on the task force, the first time that has happened.

Blatter attended the meeting in Zurich along with FIFA general secretary Urs Linsi with the EPFL represented by its general manager Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros.

Blatter believes a cut would free up more dates in the international calendar as well as reduce fixture congestion and the number of matches.

The EPFL countered that the clubs affected would lose the revenue from two home matches while there would also be less top division matches available for TV. The lower divisions in every country would also have to be expanded or re-configured.

FIFA believes that, through its national associations, it does have the right to take this decision and tell the leagues how to organise themselves.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.