FIFA's Infantino defends his 48-team World Cup proposal, urges zero tolerance for child abuse

Record ID: 76400

  • Title: FIFA's Infantino defends his 48-team World Cup proposal, urges zero tolerance for child abuse
  • Date: 8th December 2016
  • Summary: SINGAPORE (DECEMBER 8, 2016) (REUTERS) FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE FIFA EXECUTIVE FOOTBALL SUMMIT SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT, GIANNI INFANTINO, SAYING: "What I can say already now just to be very clear is that all these formats can be played in the same number of days as currently, 32 days, with the same number of stadiums then currently, 12 stadiums, and that the team qualifying or the two teams qualifying for the final of the tournament will play seven games. "This means that there is no additional burden for the players because if you play the final, you play seven games in 32 days exactly as it is the case now so there is no downside for the player. There is no downside for the clubs because the calendar is not impacted but there is a big upside for football, because it allows eight or 16 more teams, more countries and more regions in the world, to participate in the top competition of the world which is the World Cup." INFANTINO SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT, GIANNI INFANTINO, SAYING: "Well I don't agree with that because I think that the value and the quality of football has grown incredibly all over the world. Let's not forget in the last World Cup, for example, two of the historic big countries like England and Italy have been eliminated by Costa Rica which is not really known as a powerhouse of world football, this shows that the quality is certainly wider than many people say or think." INFANTINO SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT, GIANNI INFANTINO, SAYING: "Well the Football Association is already of course looking into that matter and this is something that has to be taken very seriously, it's not only a football matter it is a very serious matter. I mean there are not many worse things in life, not in football life, but in life generally, than child abuse, so it has to be taken seriously. There must be zero tolerance from that point of view, from a football perspective but also from a criminal perspective as well. Those who have been guilty of abusing on children need to be punished very very seriously, they have to be out of football but that is without question." INFANTINO SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA PRESIDENT, GIANNI INFANTINO, SAYING: "In football as well, we probably have to look into that more, with more care and more attention to prevent any potential child abuse in the future." INFANTINO LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 23rd December 2016 07:56
  • Keywords: FIFA World Cup soccer British FA child abuse
  • Location: SINGAPORE
  • City: SINGAPORE
  • Country: Singapore
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015C0W1MV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended his 48-team World Cup proposal on Thursday (December 8) after a football summit in Singapore while calling for "zero tolerance" of child abuse in football.
    Infantino is recommending a 48-team World Cup in 2026 and prefers to have 16 first-round groups of three teams each, a source in FIFA said on Wednesday (December 7).
    His suggestion was among four proposals which had been sent to FIFA Council members who will decide in January on the format and number of teams for the 2026 World Cup, the source said.
    He defended his proposal saying the length of the competition and the infrastructure would not need to change.
    "What I can say already now just to be very clear is that all these formats can be played in the same number of days as currently, 32 days, with the same number of stadiums then currently, 12 stadiums, and that the team qualifying or the two teams qualifying for the final of the tournament will play seven games.
    "This means that there is no additional burden for the players because if you play the final, you play seven games in 32 days exactly as it is the case now so there is no downside for the player. There is no downside for the clubs because the calendar is not impacted but there is a big upside for football, because it allows eight or 16 more teams, more countries and more regions in the world, to participate in the top competition of the world which is the World Cup," he said.
    His most recent proposal would ensure that all teams play at least two matches before going home.
    Critics, including Germany coach Joachim Loew, have said it would dilute the quality of the event and require the use of complex mathematical formulae.
    "Well I don't agree with that because I think that the value and the quality of football has grown incredibly all over the world. Let's not forget in the last World Cup, for example, two of the historic big countries like England and Italy have been eliminated by Costa Rica which is not really known as a powerhouse of world football, this shows that the quality is certainly wider than many people say or think," he said.
    He also called for "zero tolerance" of child abuse in football and promised to look into ways the global governing body can do more to prevent it in the wake of the scandal sweeping the game in England.
    "Well the Football Association is already of course looking into that matter and this is something that has to be taken very seriously, it's not only a football matter it is a very serious matter. I mean there are not many worse things in life, not in football life, but in life generally, than child abuse, so it has to be taken seriously. There must be zero tolerance from that point of view, from a football perspective but also from a criminal perspective as well. Those who have been guilty of abusing on children need to be punished very very seriously, they have to be out of football but that is without question," he said.
    The English Football Association (FA) have launched a review into allegations of children being sexually abused at professional clubs, while British police are also investigating mounting accusations of paedophile activity.
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