release players for a meaningless international two days
before the FA Cup Final and re-launching the World Club
Championship next December.
The Independent reports:
‘The Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, yesterday reiterated that
players who test positive for performance-enhancing drugs
will not necessarily face an automatic two-year suspension,
as occurs in track and field and other sports, but again
took a swipe at the way Rio Ferdinand's case was handled by
the Football Association.
‘Speaking after a meeting of the executive committee of
world football's governing in London, Blatter said every
doping case in professional football had to be taken on its
merits and stressed that Fifa had struck an agreement with
the anti-doping agency, WADA, opting out of a blanket two-
year ban for drug offenders.
‘The agreement is due to be signed in May and Blatter said
it was a critical step in the fight against drugs. "I'm not
going to talk again about the Ferdinand case because it is
exactly the type of case that was dealt with wrongly,"
Blatter said. "But every player, even in a delicate
situation, has the right to be assessed properly. It's not
correct from the human rights standpoint to put everyone in
the same basket."
‘Blatter also called on Arsenal and Manchester United to
release their French and Brazilian players for a prestige
international on 22 May, two days before the FA Cup final.
‘The France-Brazil friendly in Paris marks the highlight of
Fifa's centenary celebrations and could potentially involve
up to six Arsenal players and three from United having to
miss the build-up to Cardiff before rushing back if either
or both of them reach the Cup final.
‘Blatter said neither club would be disciplined if players
such as Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Mikaël Silvestre are
withdrawn from the Paris fixture, but urged them to "respect
Fifa's centenary which does not happen every year".
‘European clubs are certain to be antagonised by yesterday's
other announcement, the resumption of the controversial Club
World championship, scrapped four years ago through lack of
marketing and sponsorship, but now revived as a six-team
event in December next year featuring the champions of each
confederation.
‘Over 100 European clubs have already expressed their
opposition to the prospect of the Champions' League winner
being forced to fly half-way round the world for an eight-
day tournament in mid-season. But Blatter said the new
competition would go ahead "in the spirit of solidarity"
and, just to rub salt in the wound, declared that Fifa would
refuse to pay any compensation to those taking part.’