Time for FIFA to end money row, says Franz

Adrian Warner|Evening Standard|In Frankfurt

13 April 2012

Franz Beckenbauer today called for talks to be held between clubs and the football authorities to solve an escalating row over money and the 2006 World Cup.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter this week ruled out negotiations with Europe's richest clubs over their demands for compensation while players are on international duty at major finals.

But, speaking before tomorrow's World Cup qualifying draw, 2006 tournament chief Beckenbauer told Standard Sport: "I understand the request because the clubs release the players for I don't know how many months. So it is a good reason to ask what is going on and to change something for the future."

The former Bayern Munich boss added: "I don't know if it will work but at least talk to FIFA, the federat ions or the national federations. I think they have the right at least to ask. I hope they find a solution."

G14, which was recently expanded and now represents Europe's top 18 clubs including Manchester United, wants world governing body FIFA and its European counterpart UEFA to pay the players' salaries for the duration of tournaments such as the Euro finals and World Cups.

The clubs have threatened to take legal action if the ruling bodies refuse to negotiate.

But Blatter said: "I will not talk to G14. I did it once and it was not good. We can talk to individual clubs, but I am not talking to them as a group anymore."

Asked about the possibility of the clubs stopping their players from going to World Cups or European championships, he added: " Everything in football is possible, but I am convinced that there won't be a boycott or anything similar."

FIFA needs the 2006 World Cup to be a financial success and any sort of boycott could hit TV ratings hard.

But there is no doubt that Blatter is currently on a collision course with the clubs and the Premiership is in the firing line.

Blatter believes there is too much football being played and that revenues are falling because there are too many games on offer.

In Germany on Tuesday, he repeated a call he made in London in July for national leagues to be reduced to a maximum of 16 teams.

The proposal, aimed at stopping player burnout caused by overcrowded-fixture lists, was put on the agenda of today's FIFA executive committee meeting in Frankfurt and could be ratified as soon as next May at a FIFA Congress in Paris.

The Football Association would then be obliged to persuade the Premier League to reduce the number of clubs from the present 20 - a move which would provoke huge controversy and would be opposed by most clubs.

MORE ABOUT

FIFA

Sepp Blatter

Time for FIFA to end money row, says Franz

Read More