MX23RW : Friday, December 13 18:34:47| >> :600:133664136:133664136:

Gianni Infantino: 'Club World Cup could be delayed or scrapped'

Infantino: 'Club World Cup could be delayed or scrapped'
© Reuters
Bayern Munich would be Europe's representatives.

This year's Club World Cup in Qatar could be delayed or scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said.

The competition, which brings together the club champions from the six regional confederations, is due to take place in December as part of the Middle East state's preparations for hosting the World Cup in 2022.

However, delays to international club competitions – such as South America's Copa Libertadores – mean it could be pushed back to 2021 or abandoned altogether.

Infantino said: "When it comes to the current Club World Cup of 2020, well since many confederations or some confederations will probably not conclude their Champions Leagues until December, it is unlikely that this event will take place in December of this year as was originally planned.

"But we are discussing, we are monitoring, we are seeing if it can be hosted in Qatar maybe at the beginning of the (new) year.

"We certainly want to see if we can keep it, we will do that consulting all the confederations and all the participating clubs and take the best decision for football."

Infantino told delegates from the 211 national associations gathered virtually for FIFA's 70th Congress that the organisation was in good financial health despite the pandemic, "because the money doesn't disappear any more".

FIFA has launched a Covid-19 relief plan made up of grants and interest-free loans worth 1.5 billion US dollars.

He said FIFA's murky past and victim status in a number of ongoing corruption cases was the reason why he had on many occasions met with prosecutors from a wide range of countries, including three meetings with Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber in 2016 and 2017 which are now the subject of criminal proceedings.

"In 2015 FIFA was toxic, it was pronounced dead," he said.

"It was an organisation that had served itself from football, had used football, instead of serving football.

"Why was I meeting the Swiss attorney general? Because it was my duty as FIFA president. I wanted to liberate FIFA from those old, toxic values.

"No organisation can be led into the future if you don't resolve the past."

Infantino said he had been given no new information related to the proceedings against him since they were opened at the end of July, but described the suggestion that they involved any illegal activity as "absurd" and "far-fetched".

Nasser Al Khelaifi arrives at the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland, on Monday
Nasser Al Khelaifi arrives at the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland, on Monday (Francesca Agosta/AP)

FIFA's former secretary general Jerome Valcke is currently standing trial in Switzerland over alleged criminal mismanagement while in office in relation to the sale of media rights to FIFA competitions. He denies the charges he faces.

FIFA dropped a criminal complaint against another defendant in the same trial, Paris St Germain president Nasser Al Khelaifi, after reaching a settlement.

Asked why FIFA had not just let the case proceed, he said it was a matter for the organisation's legal department and that the settlement was perfectly legal.

Al Khelaifi, who is a serving member of UEFA's executive committee, denies a charge of inciting Valcke to commit criminal mismanagement.

The Congress approved a rule change which will give players greater scope to switch national teams.

Players can now represent a second national team, provided they meet eligibility criteria and have played no more than three matches for the first national team at senior level, with all the appearances coming before the player turns 21.

Appearances in World Cup finals matches or continental finals such as the Euros would also prohibit a player from switching, but appearing in a tournament qualifier would not.

Infantino confirmed the 71st FIFA Congress would be held in Tokyo next year.

ID:414919: cacheID:414919:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8005:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Read more about Gianni Infantino Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
1.15am
Rams
@
49ers
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!