The president of South America’s soccer confederation has reiterated that groups from the area would boycott FIFA’s plans for a biennial World Cup and stated there’s “no chance” that such a proposal will undergo.
Alejandro Dominguez, the president of CONMEBOL, instructed The Associated Press on Thursday that it’s a “waste of time” for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to proceed pushing his need to stage a World Cup each two years.
“CONMEBOL will not play every two years and that is final. … It is a no go,’ there’s no chance,” Domínguez stated in an interview.
“This (plan) was dead at birth, we have made it clear from day one.” Infantino has insisted that staging the World Cup each two years as an alternative of each 4 years will permit extra international locations to qualify and create extra curiosity and income. But Dominguez stated South American and European groups, which have received each version of the match since 1930, won’t participate underneath that format.
“Without European and South American teams I have doubts that one can achieve these revenues they talk about,” Dominguez stated.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has additionally publicly opposed FIFA’s plan, and their joint disapproval of the proposal appears to have introduced the European and South American governing our bodies nearer collectively.
Ceferin visited CONMEBOL’s headquarters two weeks in the past for a celebration for Dominguez’ sixth anniversary on the helm. But Dominguez insisted that they don’t have a private beef with Infantino.
“This is not action against Infantino,” he stated.
“It is just impossible to think that we can have a World Cup every two years.” “It would kill Copa America, and Copa America is a very important source of income for our associations. That would not be equivalent to a World Cup every two years,” he added.
Dominguez additionally stated the controversial proposal for biennial World Cups won’t have an effect on Infantino’s probabilities to stay as FIFA president within the subsequent elections.
“Today I don’t see any rival that is emerging or reemerging, someone that proposes something different to Infantino’s leadership,” the CONMEBOL president stated.
The partnership between CONMEBOL and UEFA will embrace friendlies between South American and European groups earlier than the World Cup in Qatar, Dominguez stated.
Brazil and Argentina, who’ve already certified for the match in Qatar, have lengthy complained concerning the issue in scheduling matches towards European rivals.
“Speaking about a Nations League between South America and Europe is very important. The Europeans also know they have to play against South Americans. Home and away,” the CONMEBOL president stated.
Copa America winners Argentina and European champions Italy will face off in June. There’s additionally a proposal for continental runners-up Brazil and England to conflict earlier than Qatar.
