Gianni Infantino: We must be guided by sports motivations, not financial

The President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, hoped to reach a global agreement on the new international calendar, in whose debate they must prevail “sports motivations over financial ones”, to “do something for the common good of football.”

“It has been and will continue to be a quite heated debate, that is always based on respect and that is positive. We are acting in good faith, to do something for the benefit of football. I understand that there may be divergent opinions, that it arouses passions but I am convinced that on December 20 we can present a solution. We are going to change something only if we are convinced that everyone can benefit, ”he said after the FIFA Council meeting on Wednesday.

Infantino announced that it was agreed to convene a summit on December 20 to address the new international calendar from 2023 (from 2024 female), with the option to hold a World Cup every two years, and that he analyzed how the consultation process opened on the matter by FIFA, in which Arsene Wenger leads the debate on the men’s calendar and Jill Ellis on the women’s.

“We have to see if we can organize more competitions with meaning for fans, without adding additional dates to the calendar that we already have, and we must let ourselves be guided by sports motivations, not financial ones. We will have to talk about income as well and give it back to the world of football, but first we have to do the right thing for football, “he insisted.

In his opinion, the FIFA is “facing its responsibility” and the world of soccer has a chance to improve. “We are talking about the future so that our children continue to fall in love with this game. When the whole world has been able to listen to the whole world we will have to reach a conclusion for the future ”, he added.

On how to reach consensus among all parties, Infantino opined that “everything is possible”, at the same time he invited everyone to bring any good proposal to FIFA.

“The decision is not mine, I am here to facilitate the debate, that there are beneficial changes for all, if we cooperate we will find positive solutions. Change is always difficult and everyone has their own interests, so I call on everyone to remain calm, to be rational and reasonable, I hope we can present a joint position on December 20. We have received very legitimate reviews and very enthusiastic comments, ”he said.

At the press conference after the Council meeting, Infantino insisted that there is no decision made, that the debate is open, that all federations have a voice and that their role is to listen to all parties, while explaining that the agency is conducting a feasibility study.

“A large majority of federations have voted in favor, a majority of European federations have asked us for this feasibility study and it is our obligation, but we do not have results and it would be premature to talk about these issues”, He explained after the meeting held with all the federations on September 30.

This Wednesday’s Council meeting also decided that the Club World Cup to be held in early 2022 in the United Arab Emirates, after the resignation of Japan, and that the next FIFA Congress will be held in Doha on March 31, before the draw for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

He also specified that the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will be played from July 20 to August 20 and that play-off To decide the last teams that will participate, it will be played on February 13 and 23 of that year. (D)