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Bale criticises plans for World Cup shake up

08 Sep 2021 2 minute read
Gareth Bale. Photo by joncandy, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Wales skipper Gareth Bale has spoken out against plans that would see football’s World Cup staged every two years.

The proposals, which would also see the European Championship take place biennially, have been put forward by Fifa’s chief of global football development Arsène Wenger, and could be voted through before the end of the year.

Under Wenger’s plans there would also be no club football in October, clearing the fixture list for international qualifiers.

Speaking about the plans before the World Cup qualifier against Estonia in Cardiff this evening, the Real Madrid star said he felt the proposed change would rob the World Cup of its “special feeling”.

Tradition

“I like the tradition of every four years – it has the prestige, like the Olympics coming around every four years, it feels that little bit more special it’s not happening too often,”

“I don’t like every two years. I feel it loses that bit of history. The fact it’s over four years, and it’s a long time until the next one, makes it that bit more prestigious,” he added.

Europe’s top clubs and Uefa oppose the planned changes to the football calendar, but Wenger’s proposals are supported by the majority of Fifa associations and could be passed in December.

All 211 Fifa members are likely to vote on the proposals before the end of the year and if they are endorsed, the World Cup finals could be held every two years from 2028.

Fifa is expected to reveal more details about the proposed changes on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Wales will have striker Harry Wilson available for the Estonia game after serving a one-game suspension for the red card he collected in the 4-0 Euro 2020 defeat to Denmark in June.

Ethan Ampadu, Tyler Roberts and Brandon Cooper are also available after missing Sunday’s game against Belarus due to visa issues.

Wales are currently in third place in Group E after the last gasp 3-2 victory in Russia over Belarus, while Estonia are currently propping up the group having have lost all three games played so far.


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GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
2 years ago

This has nothing to do with players or fans like FIFA claim, but pure greed for more money. They already extended the amount of competitors to 48 for the World Cup in 2026 (almost a quarter of all FIFA members) and now they want to lower standards even more. Can’t wait to see France beat Krakatoa 500-0. What would happen to the Euros?

Last edited 2 years ago by GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
2 years ago

I spotted a mistake. Estonia have scored in this group, twice each against Belgium, Belarus and Czech Republic. They have 6 goals, not zero.

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