You have probably already heard about the new organization set up to represent the interests of the clubs. The G14 is to be disbanded and replaced by the European Clubs Association (ECA) which will represent 103 clubs from 53 different football associations. Karl Heinze Rummenigge from Bayern Munich will be ECA’s first president and Barça’s Joan Laporta will be vice-president. AC Milan, Chelsea, Ajax and Lyon will have board members. Elections will be held at the end of the current season. Rummenigge and Laporta will also get to form part of Uefa’s executive committee but they will not have a right to vote.
There are four main agreements that the clubs have made with Fifa and Uefa concerning international football. First, Fifa and Uefa have agreed to put a fund of €174 million towards compensating clubs for players representing their national teams at World Cups and European Championships. The deal roughly works out at €4,000 per player per day. While this is obviously good news for the big clubs like Barça, and to a certain extent the logical fair decision, I have to ask myself: where is the money coming from? If it means more money for the big clubs it must mean less for the smaller clubs and less for the development of football at the youth level, for women’s football, and for football in developing countries, etc. The big clubs don’t need the money, it will only end up in the pockets of the already overpaid stars and their parasitic agents.
The second decision is more to my liking. National teams will be allowed to call up each player for no more than one friendly fixture played outside Europe a year. This will benefit players like Ronaldinho and Messi who are sometimes made to travel across the Atlantic or further to play in meaningless friendly games. Hopefully, if they can rest a little better, then they should also perform better and hopefully sustain fewer injuries.
The third decision is also positive as Uefa has said it will change the dates for international games so that they are played on Saturdays and Tuesdays (instead of Wednesdays), this will give players an extra day to recover in time for the following weekend.
Finally Uefa has agreed to try and reduce the size of the qualifying groups for the European Championships so that there will be a maximum of six teams in each group thus reducing the number of international fixtures.
On the whole it must be said that Laporta has done a good deal for Barça. I have complained about the number of internationals in the past especially when we have to endure an international break at a crucial point in the season - http://fcbnews.com/international-games-next-weekend/ http://soccerlens.com/is-there-too-much-international-football/2365/
8 responses so far ↓
Siim // Jan 22, 2008 at 20:00
Is Laporta the vice-president of ECA as Barcelona president or as a person? When he leaves Barcelona and the new president is elected, will he still be the vice-president in the European Clubs Association?
I don’t find it positive that the groups of qualifications are reduced. That means the players from weaker national sides will get less international games and the development will slow down.
Though it’s nice the G-14 will be dismissed. European football should be considered from the wider perspective than just 18 top clubs. For example more than 12% of the population in Faroe Islands is registered as footballers and I think G-14 wouldn’t care much how they are doing so I believe it’s good they didn’t become a dominant force in European football.
blaugranafan // Jan 23, 2008 at 4:17
Great piece! Though perhaps I’m not as keen as you on transferring wealth from big clubs to other “disenfranchised” soccer constituencies. Many of the big clubs have women’s soccer teams and have done a good job developing youth academies and investing in football schools around the globe in (relatively) impoverished locations. I’m not sure that Uefa or Fifa could do a better job given the same resources. The exorbitant salaries paid to players and agents is the consequence of a lack of fiscal restraint on the clubs’ part; it should not be a reason to deprive the big clubs of deserved wage compensation. Instead, it’s something that the clubs should unilaterally address when negotiating contracts. I don’t support regulating agents fees.
Siim brings up a good question regarding Laporta’s role in the new organization. Anyone know the answer?
In the end, it’s nice that Uefa and Fifa have decided to officially recognize a representative body at the club level. And an additional benefit to Nic’s second point is that by restricting national teams from calling up European players to friendlies more than once a year, national teams are forced to look elsewhere for players, giving lesser-known players a chance at the big time and helping increase competition and develop talent for the national team.
Varughese // Jan 23, 2008 at 5:33
I only see this as another desperate step by the always greedy European clubs. How can they restrict the number of friendlies outside Europe. Its time national authorities take steps like if the clubs and stars are reluctant to represent the country, they should not be even considered. No Ronaldinho is bigger than Brazil, and No Messi is bigger than Argentina. The clubs should stop believing that they created football in these countries.
Blaugrana // Jan 23, 2008 at 15:15
On a more IMPORTANT note,cameroon lost 4-2 judging from the performance on the pitch eto’o might be coming home early.
FCB - Canada // Jan 23, 2008 at 23:18
Off topic but I just read this. If Drogba does come to Barca, does this mean that Ronnie could very well be on his way out? I think he will be.
http://www.soccer365.com/european_news/story_23108203937.php
Nic // Jan 23, 2008 at 23:58
Sorry for not replying sooner, I’ve been very busy. Since I wrote the article I have thought a bit about fans in other continents who will have fewer chances to see the stars due to the one-match friendly rule. When I wrote I was thinking more about the strain on the players making the trips and the subsequent effect on their performances. Good point from Blaugranafan about clubs putting resources into women’s football and developing academies, etc. I admit I don’t know either whether Fifa or Uefa does this better. As for Laporta’s role I imagine it must be as Barça president but I can’t confirm this. Presumably he can be voted out at elections. Thanks for the replies on this subject, it is not so easy to write on the politics in the game and I appreciate the feedback.
Blaugrana, I wanted to write about the performances of the Barça players at the African Cup but I’m sure everyone knows what happened. For those that don’t Toure played well in Ivory Coast’s 1-0 win over Nigeria, and Cameroon were awful losing 4-2 to Egypt. Eto’o scored both Cameroon goals; one with a header and the other from a penalty. It confirmed my belief that Eto’o is a poor penalty taker as his was a soft shot that the goalie should have saved.
FCB-Canada - the source for the Drogba story is As who don’t do the most reliable pieces on Barça. I am a big fan of Drogba but I imagine Chelsea would ask for too much money and Gaspart is no longer in charge. Ronnie, of course could leave but I don’t think he is finished yet. We may well see enough from him in the second half of the season to convince those in charge that he is worth keeping.
joanamenos // Jan 24, 2008 at 17:33
Is Platini the person who is beside Laporta? How the time has passed. I remember him when he was an important French player and I was younger than today.
I agree with the implementation of ECA. I think that the final goal is the organization of an European league with the most successful European clubs. Is it really interesting one match with Barça against Murcia, for instance? It’s boring. I would like to watch every week matches played for the most important soccer teams: Barça, Madrid, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Tottenham, Valencia, Arsenal…(you could complete this list without a doubt).
Perhaps, ECA is the seed for that new championship. Of course, of course, I am listening now to your criticism. Am I proposing a championship only for elite soccer clubs? Not exactly. We could perhaps distribute teams in some groups. For instance, the list of 103 clubs of ECA in four or five groups. After, it would be able organize in May and June a new Champions league only for the bests teams in each group.
“Eurovision”, this old contest of singers, was a very important idea to create a new European conscience. The new soccer championship would be a decisive step for European integration. After the old Abba and their “Waterloo” and the euro, the new European soccer championship (without national flags). Another advantage: an amazing piece of news for low cost flies and high speed train through Europe!
robert // Jan 24, 2008 at 21:17
giovanni wiilll stay and if he doesnt he migth leave to real madrid
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