G14 HITS BACK

Last updated : 23 July 2003 By Editor

After both Uefa and FIFA have declared that they will not speak to G14 in an official capacity, Peter Kenyan has hit back with why it's important that the governing bodies take notice of the big clubs.

Both Sepp Blatter and his UEFA counterpart Lennart Johansson have refused talks with G14 as it is not a recognised body. And unsurprisingly this has caused anger among the 18 members.

Cuddly Pete said:

"It is too easy for people to say G14 just want to do their own thing and do breakaways,"

"That is not true but equally you can't get away from the fact that the clubs are the employers of the players who play for the national sides and the fact that those 18 clubs involved in G14 represent the major clubs in European competition.

"We don't want to take over the Champions League but equally we are not prepared just to have arbitrary decisions made without involvement with club football.

"Football has to move forward and you can't move forward by ignoring the clubs. That is a fact.

"We develop players and we pay their salaries every single week.

"You are not going to change the power base because the power base is about success and that isn't going to change."