FIFA includes youth shake-up and fans consultation in high-speed gallop to change the calendar
KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTING —- World football federation FIFA has come up with an intriguing proposal to organise a massive expansion of international youth competition as part of its rebuilding of the international match calendar.
The plans were set out in a four-hour video summit with representatives of all the world game’s 211 national associations. The conference was one more stepping stone in the feasibility study for a World Cup every two years which has aroused controversy and European ire.
Perhaps FIFA president Gianni Infantino views a youth tournament revolution, whose costs would all have to be met by FIFA itself, as a worthwhile creative option if the World Cup multiplication becomes becalmed in the political turmoil.
Certainly sensible time for reflection is not part of the plan.
Development director Arsene Wenger told the summit about the options for boys’ and girls’ tournaments.
The first option presented includes an annual U17 tournament for 48 teams, and a biennial U20 tournament for 24 teams, while a second option considers the scheduling of annual U16 and U18 tournaments for 48 teams, and a biennial U20 tournament for 24 teams.
Infantino prompted speculation about the true state of FIFA’s financial health with his comments about the pressing need for reform.
He said: “FIFA has one event that lasts one month every four years that is helping to develop football in 211 member associations and the other FIFA competitions.
“FIFA has ambitions for football development across the entire world, but these can only be realised if we have more successful events taking place on a more regular basis.
“The new FIFA is open for this type of dialogue as we strive to find the best possible solution for women’s, men’s and youth football going forward, both in terms of international match calendar and final tournaments reform.”
So, basically, FIFA needs the money to fund an expansionist agenda.
Questions, questions
The consultation process kicked off in a first phase with football players and coaches and has now entered a second phase involving associations, confederations and stakeholders.
These stakeholders, according to FIFA, include fans so expect FIFA questionnaires coming to your club stadium soon.
A report will be published in November with plans to rush the proposals through “a global summit . . . before the end of the year.”
Infantino added: “We have the opportunity to shape football history, to look forward, to learn from the past, and to design the future because our vision is to make football truly global.
“But we will only make changes if it benefits everyone. No-one should be a loser in this, everyone should be better off at the end of the day. Otherwise there is no reason to change anything, if the global world of football and everyone in it is not better off.
“We are aware of the different challenges that this brings.”
Wenger suggested the plan – with national team matches taking out an entire month in the autumn and possibly another in the spring – with the finals tournaments in June/July as now was “an audacious proposal for the future of men’s football.”
He added: “It follows four main principles, namely regrouping national team qualifying matches, reducing travel for players, creating more space for meaningful matches and final tournaments, and ensuring a mandatory rest period for players between seasons.”
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