LAUSANNE, SWITZERLANDÂ (AFP) - Fifa president Gianni Infantino was dealt a blow on Wednesday (May 22) when world football's governing body shelved a proposed expansion of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams.
Fifa dumped the plans "following a thorough and comprehensive consultation process" which led to the conclusion that "under the current circumstances such a proposal could not be made now".
"(The tournament) will therefore remain as originally planned with 32 teams and no proposal will be submitted at the next Fifa Congress on June 5," Fifa said in a statement.
The expansion was a pet project of Infantino, who pushed the idea despite the likely need for Qatar's neighbours to put aside a two-year blockade and help host the tournament.
"The involvement of these countries in the organisation of the tournament jointly with Qatar implies the lifting of this blockade, in particular the lifting of restrictions on the movement of people and goods," said a feasibility study submitted to March's Fifa Congress in Miami.
The study, seen by AFP, also claimed that a Qatar World Cup with 48 teams would generate "between US$300 and US$400 million (S$414 and S$552 million) of additional income".
Specifically, Fifa was counting on an additional US$120 million in TV rights, US$150 million in marketing rights and US$90 million from ticket sales.
The news comes after Europe's top football clubs said in March they would boycott an expanded 24-team Club World Cup - also backed by Infantino - which is planned to take place between June 17 and July 4, 2021, replacing the Confederations Cup international tournament.
Â
Â
COMPLICATED PROPOSITION
An announcement of the final decision hadn't been expected until next month's congress, which is being held in Paris ahead of the Women's World Cup taking place in France between June 7 and July 7.
However, the statement said that the study "concluded that due to the advanced stage of preparations and the need for a detailed assessment of the potential logistical impact on the host country, more time would be required and a decision could not be taken before the deadline of June".
Fifa has dropped the idea despite recommending in March that the number of teams should be raised to 48 for 2022, ahead of the planned 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Expanding the competition for the 2022 tournament was always a complicated proposition.
Fifa had sounded out potential co-hosts in the region willing to support Qatar, a complicated proposition for Doha which is subject to an ongoing embargo by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and their allies.
Last week, Hassan al-Thawadi, the secretary general of Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, said that a feasibility study jointly carried out by Fifa and Qatar would favour "expansion to other countries".
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain cut all ties with Doha in June 2017, accusing Qatar of supporting Iran and Islamist groups.
Qatar denies the charges and says Saudi Arabia and its allies aim to incite government change in the emirate, the world's largest exporter of liquified natural gas.
Gulf states Kuwait and Oman have not taken sides in the crisis. However, in April, Oman announced it was "not ready" to host matches.
At a time when England have been pilloried by their own fans after a laboured World Cup qualifying campaign, the country's promising prodigies offer hope of a brighter future. England's starlets
The Practicality of Nursing Theory in the Future - 2019
Football: 'Spineless, shameful' PSG stars face fury at training, Balotelli hits winner against old club Nice PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain players ran a gauntlet of hate and abuse after they invited 500 of their die-hard fans to witness a training session on Sunday (March 10), having earlier been blasted as "shameless" and "spineless".
Lewis Hamilton looks out over Melbourne skyline ahead of
sportsloveme.com/racing/f1/lewis-hamilton-looks-out-over-melbourne-skyline-ahead-of-australian-gp/
← Football: 'Spineless, shameful' PSG stars face fury at training, Balotelli hits winner against old club Nice Knicks owner James Dolan threatens to ban fan for yelling 'sell the team' → You May Also Like
winner - malaysia.shafaqna.com
Posts about Koscielny written by Paul. Arsenal 1-0 Swansea City. Szczesny, Sagna - Mertesacker - Koscielny - Gibbs, Frimpong - Arteta - Ramsey, Walcott - Arshavin - Van Persie.
Air Force will bring back up to 1,000 retirees to plug gap in
- Vietnam family rewarded with $0.65 for good compliance with site clearance order. - Took meth several days earlier, says truck driver who killed eight in accident. Other - 3 Newborn Endangered Right Whales Seen After Year With No Births. [New York Times] - Koreans lurk as Qatar defy abuse to reach Asian Cup quarters.
Qatar Happening - February 2011 by Qatar Happening - Issuu
Football: Solskjaer praises buccaneering Man United players
Feb 12, 2019 · Gordon Banks, England's 1966 World Cup winning goalkeeper, has died aged 81. A statement released by his family via one of his former clubs Stoke City said: "It is with great sadness that we
Gordon Banks dies: tributes paid to England World Cup-winning
Jan 17, 2019 · AL AIN, United Arab Emirates (AP) Qatar finished the group stage of the Asian Cup with a third straight win, beating three-time champion Saudi Arabia 2-0 on Thursday in a highly charged game amid
World Cup 2018: Russia vs Saudi Arabia, result, video
Make that 10 wins from 11 games now for Manchester United as they swept aside Fulham on Saturday afternoon to move into the Premier league top four.
Man United beats Fulham to move into Premier League's top 4
Thomas Muller issues emotional response following brutal Germany axe. The Bayern Munich forward was dropped by coach Joachim Loew, along with his clubmates Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng
'Angry' Mueller questions Loew decision after Germany axe
Pep Guardiola said his Manchester City team will be poised to pounce if Premier League leaders Liverpool falter, following a comfortable 3-0 win over Wolves on Monday that left City four points
Man City ready to pounce on any Liverpool slip-ups, says
On the other hand, there is no limit to the amount of money that you can keep in your bank account after a Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing. This is because the terms of Chapter 13 bankruptcy generally prohibit creditors from seizing your assets outright.
How Much Overage Can My Bank Keep in My Escrow Account
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen