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.
Inspired by the New England Patriots's stunning Super Bowl victory on Sunday, UEFA.com delved into the record books to unearth six of the greatest UEFA Champions League comebacks.
Greatest UEFA Champions League comebacks
Crowds flock to Argentine village to pay tribute to footballer Sala. The player's body was recovered from the submerged wreckage on 7 February but 59-year-old Ibbotson remains missing.
Crowds flock to Argentine village to pay tribute to
The Qatar national football team (Arabic: منتخب قطر لكرة القدم ) is the national team of Qatar and is overseen by the Qatar Football Association. The team has appeared in ten Asian Cup tournaments and won it once in 2019. They play their home games at Khalifa International Stadium and Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. The latter is
Iran national football team - Wikipedia
Kane 'proud' of England response to race jibes during Monday's Euro 2020 qualifier in Podgorica, which England won 5-1. any supporters found to have racially abused England's black
Chelsea are through to the semi-finals of the Europa League after defeating Slavia Prague 4-3 at Stamford Bridge last night (Thursday). The Blues won 5-3 on aggregate in the quarter-final tie, having won 1-0 in the Czech Republic last week, with four goals in the first 27 minutes of the second leg helping Maurizio Sarri's side to victory.
Chelsea beat Slavia Prague to reach Europa League semi-finals
Radojko Avramović took over as coach of the flailing and deflated Singapore national football team in July 2003. Singapore started the 2004 AFF Championship as underdogs but a 1-1 draw in their first game against hosts Vietnam, another draw against Indonesia, and wins against Cambodia and Laos saw them qualify for the semi-finals.
I believe in the potential of Singapore football to reach
Former Football Star Paul Gascoigne Faces Assault Trial For
Pele had the surgery at the Israelite Albert Einstein hospital. "The procedure was a success and the patient is back in his room," a brief statement from doctors said. Considered by many the game
Football: Pele recovering well after kidney stone operation
Warnock hails Cardiff's response to Sala tragedy Cardiff City supporters display tributes for Argentinian forward Emiliano Sala ahead of the Premier League match against Arsenal at the Emirates
Warnock proud of Cardiff response to Sala tragedy at Arsenal
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
Surely now Manchester City have the title in the bag! Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this crunch Premier League encounter between Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester City at the
Brighton 1-4 Man City: City crowned Premier - express.co.uk
Singapore's group-stage exit at the SEA Games is just one of the signs that the nation's football scene is in poor shape, writes Kenneth Tan. just one sign that Singapore football is
Eight Singapore Premier League clubs to share stadiums, views
The former Liverpool boss was not shy about heaping praise on the new one. These Reds Are Built To Last. "The problem now in football is how much money you spend and whether you can buy
Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp's side show their title
Cesc Fabregas has joined Monaco from Chelsea in a deal which runs until June 2022. Cesc Fabregas completes Monaco move from Chelsea " He leaves with the very best wishes of everybody at
Fabregas Completes Move from Chelsea to Monaco, Reunites With
0 comments:
Post a Comment