The dispute over a World Cup rhythm escalates every two years. After a meeting between FIFA and the European associations, they are now threatening to leave the world association.
In the debate about the controversial plans for a World Cup every two years, other European football associations are considering leaving Fifa. According to information from the German Press Agency, more than a dozen associations from Europe are considering ending membership in the world association as a last option. The AP news agency first reported on it after FIFA boss Gianni Infantino spoke to numerous European association heads on Tuesday about the reform of the men’s international game calendar from 2024.
A possible world championship every two years is currently being discussed controversially, the continental associations of Europe and South America categorically reject this. Aleksander Ceferin, President of the European Football Union, threatened a boycott from Europe.
Northern European associations have already made a clear statement
Most recently, the Northern European associations of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands made their position against a World Cup every two years clear in a joint statement. “In the worst case and as a last option,” it could not be ruled out that the associations might withdraw from Fifa in protest, according to a statement from the Danish association.
A possible resignation of member associations is regulated in Article 18 of the Fifa statutes. Accordingly, a resignation can take place at the end of a calendar year, a corresponding declaration must be made no later than six months before the end of the year. So this could no longer happen in 2021. Teams from the respective countries could then no longer take part in FIFA competitions, but as Uefa members they could still participate in competitions of the European Continental Association.
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
