World Cup: ECA is opposed to increasing the number of participants proposed by G. Infantino

"We have to focus on the sport again. Politics and commerce should not be the exclusive priority in football. In the interest of the fans and the players, we urge FIFA not to increase the number of world cup participants," said Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chairman of the ECA, on 15/12/2016.

"The number of games being played throughout the year has already reached an unacceptable level, in particular for national team players. The ECA Executive Board therefore rejects such initiative and has today sent a letter to Gianni Infantino calling on FIFA not to increase the number of participants at future World Cups," added the European Club Association in a statement.

Increasing in the number of national teams in the finals of the World Cup (set at 32 since the 1998 edition) is on the agenda of the FIFA Council, which next meets in Zurich (SUI), on 09/01 and 10/01/2017.

"Everyone wants an extension (of the number of teams in the final phase of the World Cup). Then there are some who would rather have 40, and others who want 48," said Gianni Infantino, in Paris (FRA) on 23/11/2016, after the…