« It would be a mistake not to investigate, » veteran Le Graet, 79, told the Friday edition of the sports daily L’Equipe the day after the world football federation held the summit with its 211 member associations to rally support.
File image of French football president Noel Le Graet. AFP
Paris: French Football Association President Noel Le Graet says he is « not against » the highly controversial idea of hosting a World Cup every two years after FIFA held an online summit to discuss the project .
« It would be a mistake not to investigate, » veteran Le Graet, 79, told the Friday edition of the sports daily L’Equipe, the day after the world football federation held the summit with its 211 member associations to approve are gathering support.
Le Graet said he was « very positive » for the idea of holding world championships for women every two years « as long as they are held in winter rather than summer when it is too close to the men « .
He was rather reluctant when it came to more regular men’s world championships, but admitted: » Personally, I am not against the idea, but I would not give carte blanche for it either.
« I need to know whether this project the French Federation, of which I am president, will enrich or impoverish. «
Le Graet pointed out that the decision by UEFA to create a new biennial tournament, the Nations League, was the result of between European and World Championships being held is problematic because it is more difficult for national teams on other continents to have the opportunity to play in friendly matches with European teams Russia won the World Cup on Thursday that regular participation in the World Cup threatened to « trivialize » it. He added that the current format of a four-year tournament « is fine as it is ».
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October 01, 2021 6:20:44 pm IST
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