FIFA sets up working party to review leagues playing outside their own countries

October 25 – On Thursday, FIFA, responding to its commitment in the US following legal action by sports marketer Relevent and LaLiga, has set up a working group  to review its rules around allowing leagues to play matches outside their domestic markets.

With a growing number of complaints over a congested international calendar FIFA is facing rebellion from players and leagues. This working group is not tasked with finding a solution to that – or the predicament the increasingly unloved 2025 Club World Cup finds itself in – but its findings may end up having a bearing on that issue.

FIFA said “the working group’s primary objective will be to review and recommend potential changes to the FIFA Regulations Governing International Matches, specifically:

i)        the rules, procedures and processes for authorising interclub football matches or competitions; and
ii)       the criteria to be applied for authorising such matches or competitions.”

The issue of staging domestic league matches on foreign soil was front and centre again last week with LaLiga saying it had scheduled a Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid regular season match for December 22 in Miami. and aim to organise a competitive domestic game in Miami next season.

In 2018, La Liga’s plan to stage the Barcelona – Girona match in the Sunshine State was thwarted by opposition from FIFA and the Spanish FA.

Relevent Sports Group, which has a marketing relationship in the US with LaLiga and is owned by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, sued FIFA and the US Soccer Federation and after losing the case won an appeal earlier this year with the parties reaching an agreement to drop FIFA from the suit, on the basis they would reopen discussion on the possibility of La Liga staging matches in the United States in the future.

With LaLiga forcing the issue with the scheduling of the December fixture (LaLiga has also opposed the organisation of the 32-team 2025 Club World Cup in the…

Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/10/25/fifa-sets-working-party-review-leagues-playing-outside-countries/

Author : Paul Nicholson

Publish date : 2024-10-25 15:08:57

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