David Gill:
"It was decided that G14 clubs would not take part in the World Club Championship. We were following on from the views expressed at the recent European Club Forum in Barcelona and this was a ratification of that decision."
However the G14 is not recognised by FIFA who will press ahead according to The Times:
FIFA communications director Markus Siegler said: "This tournament has been voted for by the FIFA Congress, by all the national associations, and it is they who may compel a club to take part. We believe this competition is for the good of football and if you ask any player they would want to become club world champions. We are confident that the clubs will participate."
FIFA had announced that the new-look World Club Championship would be a six-team competition. The champions of Africa, Asia, CONCACAF and Oceania would play in a first-round knockout, with the two winners then meeting the European and South American club champions in the semi-finals. |