BARCELONA (Reuters) - Uefa proposals to change part of the Champions League format would be "catastrophic" for soccer but Fifa's plans to overhaul the Club World Cup will be a boon for the sport, LaLiga president Javier Tebas told Reuters on Thursday (March 14).
Tebas lashed out at changes he said Europe's governing body is considering making to the Champions League, saying they would damage domestic competitions.
Accusing Uefa and the European Club Association (ECA) of plotting in secret, Tebas said the body wanted to play European games on weekends rather than in mid-week and expand the group stage to four groups of eight teams, rather than the current format of eight groups of four sides.
"Uefa and the ECA are negotiating behind closed doors so that the others don't know about the reforms which put national leagues in danger," said Tebas in an exclusive interview to Reuters.
"They are making reforms to the Champions League which are very dangerous for football. It's a model which is very damaging for national leagues and also for them, as they don't understand business."
Uefa did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Tebas earlier this year made headlines for attempting to switch a LaLiga game between Barcelona and Girona to Miami, a move which was opposed by Fifa.
While he remains committed to taking domestic league games abroad to widen LaLiga's global appeal, Tebas said his priority was stopping Uefa's proposed changes.
"Playing a game in Miami is much less important to LaLiga than the catastrophic reforms of Uefa and the ECA," he said.
"Fifa has been transparent in the last few weeks and changed its position so we support them (in their Club World Cup plans), meanwhile Uefa and ECA are doing the opposite and we are very worried about that and don't support them."
Fifa's ruling council meets on Friday in Miami to discuss and vote on president Gianni Infantino's plans for the revamped Club World Cup, which would take place in 2021, replacing the Confederations Cup.
The new-look competition would see 24 teams taking part instead of the current, annual tournament between six continental champions and an invited team, which has been dominated by the winners of the Champions League since 2013.
Tebas initially opposed Infantino's plan for an annual, expanded Club World Cup, calling it "irresponsible" last year. But he said the Spanish league and other major European leagues have radically shifted their position on it.
"In the last year Fifa has made some changes and we are on the path to a good Club World Cup which fits well into the calendar and can be supported by national leagues," Tebas said.
"It still needs to be polished but they are discussing distributing the money more evenly to smaller leagues and that's very important. Fifa have also been more transparent about it.
"They've also committed to playing it every four years which affects national leagues a lot less."
The proposed shake up to the tournament has been rejected by Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin and the ECA chief Andrea Agnelli, who is also the chairman of Juventus.
The Fifa council in Miami will also explore the possibility of expanding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar from 32 to 48 teams, which could see the number of host countries also increase.
The tournament will take place between November and December rather than the traditional slot of June and July due to Qatar's scorching summer temperatures, which is set to disrupt domestic leagues across Europe and around the world.
"We always opposed the change of the dates and now LaLiga is preparing ourselves for the break in the season," Tebas said.
"We also must decide what we do with all the players that are not going to the World Cup, of which there are many, not just in Spain but around the world and who didn't figure in decisions like this.
"We'll have to wait and see what Fifa decides but in principle, we at the Spanish league are not in favour of increasing the number of teams at the Qatar World Cup or any World Cup."
JÜRGEN Klopp did his pre-Southampton press conference a day early today. He was inevitably asked about the form of Mo Salah. That's what happens I suppose when your superstar forward hasn't scored in eight games. It's going to get attention. As ever, Jürgen seemed relaxed about the whole
Klopp Unconcerned With Firmino's Dry Spell - The Liverpool
Watch FA Cup: Brighton face Man City in semis after beating Millwall on pens Semi-final draw: Man City v Brighton, Watford v Wolves; They'll play Manchester City in their first FA Cup semi
FA Cup semi-finals: Man City v Brighton, Watford v Wolves
"I'm not happy to play the second role. That's why I said next year I will need to have a more important role to play in the team." When asked whether he has already had offers to go elsewhere, Giroud added: "Yes but I won't reveal that now. The priority is Chelsea.
Giroud demands important role at Chelsea next season
In six months, Hougang United have transformed themselves from wooden spoonists to dark horses for the Singapore Premier League (SPL) title. The Cheetahs, beefed up by several key signings in the off-season, face an immediate test of their title credentials in their opener - five-time champions Tampines Rovers.
Why Chelsea STOPPED Carlo Ancelotti from sealing Andrea Pirlo
sportslifetale.com/soccer/why-chelsea-stopped-carlo-ancelotti-from-sealing-andrea-pirlo-transfer-in-2009/
Ambitious Hougang show title promise. 03/03/2019. Soccer. Olivier Giroud says player power rescued Chelsea. 01/26/2019. Post navigation. Tottenham locked in Giovani
Hougang United - Balestier Khalsa LIVE Stream# | Buffalo
LONDON: Real Madrid have knocked Manchester United off the top of Deloitte's Football Money League, but the Premier League still flexed its financial muscle, with all of England 's 'Big Six' featuring in the top 10 for the first time. The Deloitte list ranked clubs on how much money they earn from
Football: Search for missing Cardiff City's Emiliano Sala resumes in English Channel في January 23, 2019 sport, LONDON (REUTERS) - The scan for Cardiff City's new football star, Emiliano Sala, continued on Wednesday (Jan 23) 36 hours after the light flying machine he was flying on vanished in the English Channel.
Emiliano Sala missing plane: Search for Cardiff City's record
Football: Marouane Fellaini leaves Man United for China's Shandong and wishes him well for the future as he completes his move to Shandong Luneng Taishan FC in China," said a statement on
Marouane Fellaini leaves Man Utd for China's Shandong
Step up or ship out: Solskjaer. Second-placed City, on 86 points, will reclaim top spot from leaders Liverpool (88) with a win today. James Milner, who has played for three of United's fiercest
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer warns his squad must be fit before pre
Messi claims record 5th Golden Shoe. "The truth is I had no idea this would happen when I started. I dreamt of playing professional football and enjoying success, I love the game, but I
Barcelona star Messi claims record 5th Golden Shoe
Nicky Butt calls for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to be named Man Utd boss for 'long, long time' United head of academy Butt has praised the impact his former teammate has had on the club
No Rush - Former Man Utd Boss On Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Home Sport Football Olivier Giroud demands important role at Chelsea FC next season. Olivier Giroud demands important role at Chelsea FC next season Niger FA chief vows to improve youths
Giroud demands important Chelsea role next season - Chronicle.ng
Dec 22, 2018 · Fantasy Football 2018-19 Champions League FA Cup Gunnar Solskjaer off to perfect start as Manchester United hit five past hopeless Cardiff the regulation 90 to beat Etheridge for a fifth
Marquinhos, Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored PSG's goals in their first outing since their disastrous exit from the Champions League in the last 16 at the hands of
PSG win in first outing since Champions League nightmare
Football: Jurgen Klopp mentality behind Liverpool's historic comeback, says Jose Mourinho. Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates winning the UEFA Champions league semi-final football
Jurgen Klopp mentality behind Liverpool's historic comeback
And it showed. We played hard for 48 minutes." Mike Conley had 11 points and seven assists for the Grizzlies in the opener of a four-game California trip. Last season they finished with a winning road record for the first time at 24-17, third-best in the NBA. "It felt good, especially being our first road win of the season," Randolph said.
FREE Online Website Malware Scanner | Website Security
0 comments:
Post a Comment