President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach says FIFA’s proposal to hold the World Cup every two years does not in any way mean more money for participating countries as some think.
Speaking to the 2021 AIPS Young Reporters Programme team in Lausanne via zoom, he revealed that the IOC is yet to receive any paper from FIFA on its biennial World Cup proposal, although my close source at FIFA told me there are well planned and structured documents which have already been put together.
“Nobody I’ve been speaking to has seen a paper with a clear project. It is obvious to everybody that this [biennial World Cup would have a very serious effect on the overall sports calendar for all sports,” he stated.
Indicating numerous players claiming this proposal if passed will be a burden to them, as well as a risk to their health and well-being, “the ones supporting it only state money as the reason.”
The Confederation of African Football during its 13th CAF Extraordinary Congress on 26th November, 2021 validated the resolution to support FIFA’s biennial World Cup push.
Thomas Bach however revealed that, having the World Cup biennial does not mean more money for any country.
“The promoters of this plan are making a mistake if they think organizing a World Cup every two years means double the money for FIFA. It’s a mistake to think that you’ll get the same revenues if you organize it every two years. This will not happen.”
The President of the Confederation of African Football, Patrice Motsepe seemed to be the biggest supporter of this proposal has he was quoted by BBC sports to be backing the proposal during Executive Committee meeting in Morocco months ago.
“Taking into account the serious financial challenges, lack of infrastructure and facilities, African football could probably be the biggest beneficiary of a World Cup every two years,” he mentioned.
Credit: Ayishatu Zakaria Ali
Related
