FIFA Plan Criticized by UEFA
While FIFA is considering a plan that would reduce the number of teams in domestic leagues as a way to preserve players’ health, the head of European soccer thinks the sports’ world governing body should first take a look in the mirror.
In fact, UEFA chief executive Gerhard Aigner said Thursday that FIFA should cut down on the number of its own competitions rather than max out the number of teams in leagues at 16, a proposal floated by FIFA President Joseph “Sepp” Blatter that will be considered in an October meeting.
“I don’t think that the leagues will go down to 16 teams, that’s for sure,” Aigner was quoted as saying on the BBC’s Web site.
“I think the request will only be credible if FIFA renounces from playing competitions which are not appreciated.”
Blatter came up with the idea after Cameroon’s Marc-Vivien Foe collapsed and died while playing in last month’s Confederations Cup in France.
Players and coaches complained that the tournament, which could have resulted in five games in 12 days for teams, was unnecessary.
Still, in a bid to boost popularity and increase revenue, UEFA added a group stage to its second tier UEFA Cup, introducing eight five-team leagues with 80 clubs playing qualifying matches to enter and 24 from the league joining the eight eliminated from the Champions League for the single elimination stage.
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Chivu on Hold
Cristian Chivu’s $20 million transfer from Ajax to AS Roma was held up by FIFA on Thursday because the Italian power still owes a Peruvian club $450,000 from a 3-year-old deal.
Current Roma President Francesco Sensi owned Nice of France when the club bought Gustavo Vassallo Ferrari from Peru’s Sporting Cristal three years ago. But when Sensi sold the French team, Ferrari was then registered as a Roma asset.
According to Roma, it was supposed to have settled the debt with Sporting Cristal by June 19, hence FIFA freezing the Chivu move.
Chivu, 23, is Roma’s first signing of the season. The Romanian defender, who played 107 games for Ajax and scored 13 goals while helping the club win the Dutch League and Cup titles in 2002, has 28 caps and two goals for his national team.
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British Back?
Should London get tabbed to play host to the 2012 Summer Games, Britain, as host, could have its banner flying over an Olympic soccer team for the first time since 1972. It has not had one since because Britain is not recognized by soccer’s governing body. Plus, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not recognized independently by the International Olympic Committee.
Blatter told Associated Press that the four national associations could have their own tournament to determine which represents Britain.
“But the team would have to play under the name ‘Britain,’ ” he said. “I remember in the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City watching the British [women’s] curling team. They were all Scottish.”
The English Football Assn. said it had no worries in helping to return British soccer to the Olympics, so long as it did not compromise England’s status in the World Cup and European championship.
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Quick Passes
The Galaxy will play host to a U.S. Open Cup fourth-round game at the Home Depot Center on Aug. 6 against the winner of the Fresno Fuego-El Paso Patriots match.... Manuel Vasques, one of the Cinco Violinos who helped Sporting Clube de Portugal win seven of eight league titles from 1947 to 1954, died Thursday at 77 at his home in Lisbon after a long illness. An attacking midfielder, Vasques scored 317 goals in 493 games for Sporting.... Ilija Petkovic, who coached a former Yugoslavia team in 2001, was named as the new coach of Serbia and Montenegro.
Times wire services contributed to this report.
