Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup bid facing 11th-hour rival with FOUR nations join forces to avoid another winter tourney
SAUDI ARABIA’s smooth procession to being awarded the 2034 World Cup could be hit by an Australian-led roadblock.
Fifa chief Gianni Infantino loaded the contest in the Saudis’ favour by giving an October 31 deadline for bids — with government sign-off.
But Indonesian FA boss Erick Thohir, who is also a minister, has announced: “We are discussing a bid with Australia.
“Both Malaysia and Singapore expressed interest in joining us.”
Meanwhile, words have been exchanged between the two bodies representing clubs across Europe.
Lokomotiva Zagreb executive Dennis Gudasic is one of six board members of the Union of European Clubs launched in April to rival the powerful European Club Association.
Gudasic has accused the ECA of being undemocratic and blamed it for the failed Super League project.
He said in Brussels: “ECA claims to be for all but won’t allow all clubs to join or vote.
“ECA was born out of the G-14 clubs that tried to break European football 25 years ago, the same clubs that parented the Super League. Super League is in ECA’s DNA and it is now trying to hijack the Champions League from Uefa.”
The UEC, now 120-strong, aims to speak for the 1,400 medium to small clubs in Europe, many of whom are part of the 450-plus clubs aligned to the ECA.
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It is thought to be funded by LaLiga boss Javier Tebas — one of the speakers in Brussels.
ECA now has sole recognition to represent clubs from both Uefa and Fifa, and board member and Celtic boss Peter Lawwell said: “UEC is more PR than any substance.
“From what we are picking up among Scottish clubs, they are not making up any traction.”
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish, coincidentally, has launched an assault on Uefa.
The Eagles chief said: “I’ve looked at Uefa’s mission statement.
“I can’t find anywhere that it says the mission is to grow the biggest and best football tournament across Europe, garner the most media money and give it to as few clubs as possible.”
Parish also fears next season’s expansion of the Champions League will be the thin end of a wedge that will eventually force the Premier League to be cut from its current 20 clubs to 18.
He added: “This will affect every league with 20 clubs.
“This is the moat we’ve tried to protect.
“It feels like there’s an intent from Fifa and Uefa to create more competitions that reduce that and we have been disenfranchised from the debate.”
And finally, the Olympic obsession with ‘youth’ and ‘urban’ sports appears to have ended.
Breakdancing has been dropped from the Los Angeles Games in 2028 — BEFORE it has made its bow in Paris next year.
Instead, T20 cricket and flag football are in, along with top stars from squash.
Meanwhile, the first Team GB news for Paris was released with the naming of our ten sailors who will compete at Marseille.