Loss of confidence in FIFA

The European Club Association (ECA) threatened to launch a revolution to "separate" from the International Football Federation (FIFA) if FIFA does not reform...

ECA is an organization representing 197 football clubs in Europe with names like Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich... so their voice is very important and represents thousands of players.

Mr. Rummenigge threatened to lead the ECA to rebel against FIFA - Photo: Reuters

ECA President Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recently criticized FIFA for having too many members discovered to be corrupt and bribery in recent times when he told The Guardian (UK): “Corruption in FIFA is making people feel distrustful. We cannot accept the situation of being controlled by people who are not clean. This is the time to intervene to change this situation.”

During the FIFA presidential election in early June, FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced that he would carry out comprehensive reforms and allow all members to contribute their opinions. But Mr. Rummenigge did not believe in that, telling the Irish Times online newspaper: "Sepp Blatter says he is cleaning up the system, but in reality, no one believes what he says. What is important to them is what the World Cup and after the World Cup will bring them, not decency and clean management."

Not stopping there, Mr. Rummenigge also called for a reform that would allow ECA members to participate in FIFA and UEFA football development decisions: "As the root of football activities, it is unreasonable that we do not have the right to participate in giving opinions in FIFA and UEFA football development decisions. Therefore, I hope that all team owners, football associations, players, referees and even women's football have the right to participate in giving opinions on world football development programs."

Mr. Rummenigge is also unhappy about the tight international schedule and the increase in the number of teams participating in the Euro or World Cup finals, saying: “When I won the European Championship with the German team in 1980, there were only eight teams in the finals. But in 2016, that number tripled. In the World Cup, there were only 16 teams, but now there are 32. The clubs that pay the players but are not involved in these decisions show that we are not respected.”

Finally, Mr. Rummenigge issued an ultimatum: “We will give them (FIFA) another chance to make changes. But if things remain the same, we will be ready to make a revolution.”

According to Tuoi Tre