ACTUALITE |
29.12.2001
Fifa unveils `uniform calendar`
Fifa has unveiled its "uniform world calendar" designed to resolve the club versus country conflicts over players` release.
The calendar, which harmonises all football dates worldwide, will come into operation from January 2002.
Andreas Herren, spokesman for the sport`s world governing body, said the calendar will be binding on all member countries.
"All countries affiliated to Fifa will have to respect the new calendar," Herren told BBC Sport Online.
"The clubs will also have no cause not to obey the uniform calendar."
Herren explained that specific dates in the calendar will be free of any football engagement all over the world.
"This is inclusive of all domestic fixtures in all the countries," he said.
"And countries can then use those `holiday dates` for friendly matches."
Crossfire
The Fifa spokesman is confident the new calendar will finally end the tussle between clubs and countries over players.
The friction between clubs and national associations on players` availability for internationals has been on-going.
While the countries want their players for all engagements, the clubs say they pay their wages and cannot afford to have them away from duty.
Africa`s national federations are notorious for being in the crossfire in the rows with the overseas clubs.
Africa`s governing body, Caf, is hoping to help solve the problem by using the Nations Cup tournament as a qualifer for the World Cup.
Caf president Issa Hayatou said if approved by congress members in Mali, the plan will come into effect from the 2006 Nations Cup.
Some players reckons that a shift in the Nations Cup date would solve the club-country row.
Herren said Fifa would favour the new Caf plan.
Rules
It will mean a reduction in the number of matches that African players will be involved in.
Hayatou noted that many problems were being created by African countries relying on their foreign-based players.
"A solution has to be found to protect our players and the national football associations," he said.
Before the new uniform calendar, Fifa had introduced several rules to resolve the row.
One of them is that players can only make seven international friendlies in a year.
Fifa also said clubs must release players two weeks before a major tournament.
And a player cannot wear his club colours if he is not released for an international.
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