KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: Barcelona veteran Sergi Busquets and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin have both come out firmly against proposals for stage the World Cup every two years instead of four as at present.

World federation FIFA is undertaking a feasibility study after a proposal to revolutionise the international sports and football calendars was approved earlier this year by congress.

Busquets said: “On the World Cup every two years, we see the schedule is getting busier and that these people don’t care about the players. They want more Euros, more World Cups, more Club World Cups, more Championship matches, more matches for each competition.

“There will be a time when the players explode because the matches are more and more demanding and we have less time to rest. So it is very difficult to manage, as we have seen recently with this pandemic.

“All this will have consequences, so it would be necessary to organize a meeting and listen to all parties. “

Ceferin reiterated his concerns in response to an inquiry from Football Supporters Europe executive director Ronan Evain.

He said: “Considering the major impact this reform may have on the whole organisation of football there is widespread astonishment that FIFA appears to be launching a PR campaign to push its proposal whilst any such proposals haven’t been presented to confederations, national associations, leagues, clubs, players, coaches, clubs and all the football community.

“As one concrete example amongst so many, it is imperative to highlight the concerns shared across the footballing world regarding the impact a biennial FIFA World Cup would have on the international match calendar and, prominently in this context, on women’s football.”

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