October 13, 2006

Court case to end international football?: The BBC report on UEFA worries about a Belgian court case. It seems that a club, Charleroi, are suing FIFA after their player was injured while on international duty for Morocco. This follows recent complaints from Arsene Wenger about international fixtures, and of course Newcastle's negotiations with with the English FA over compensations for Michael Owen's injury.

posted by Fence to soccer at 08:50 AM - 9 comments

Dumb question - Who gets all the money the World Cup Games generates? TV Revenue, Gate, etc.?

posted by Knuckles at 09:53 AM on October 13, 2006

I don't see how this could end international football. My understanding is that the English FA will compensate clubs for players who are injured while on international duty. I would have assumed that this was the case for other countries - apparently, it isn't. Perhaps that will change. But the end of international football? Pretty rash conclusion, if you ask me..

posted by blarp at 09:54 AM on October 13, 2006

I think the international game is getting a bit too big for its britches, but the international game isn't going to die. That's absolute hyperbole. But seriously, if it means the Euro '08 qualifiers get moved closer to the actual competition (two years of qualifiers? Are you kidding me?), then I'm all for it. I'd rather not have to even be aware that the Faroe Islands are playing Georgia. But I imagine Ireland is salivating about the prospect of playing San Marino.

posted by igottheblues at 11:12 AM on October 13, 2006

I'd rather see the Faroe Islands play Georgia than cheating sacks of crap like Portugal...

posted by Drood at 12:53 PM on October 13, 2006

Money from the competitions goes to the national associations who seem to pay some bonuses to players for results. The rest is theoretically used to pay for the association management and in-country programs, youth, referee training and such. Some of course is kept to run FIFA, UEFA, CONCACAF and the rest, all of whom are on very strict budgets.

posted by billsaysthis at 02:51 PM on October 13, 2006

England fan, Drood?

posted by igottheblues at 05:10 PM on October 13, 2006

I love international football in all its forms. Knowing that Georgia v the Faroes, or Rwanda v Ethiopia, or Samoa v the Cook Islands are taking place is good for the world.

posted by owlhouse at 12:36 AM on October 14, 2006

I think the problem is that the big soccer countries can cope with paying their clubs compensation. So England, Germany, Italy etc would all be okay. However less well off Football Associations would have issues. But yes, it is a bit of hyperbole, though still raises interesting issues. I think. But I imagine Ireland is salivating about the prospect of playing San Marino. You would think so, wouldn't you, igottheblues, but we were pretty confident before Cyprus and look how that turned out.

posted by Fence at 10:42 AM on October 14, 2006

I think the umbrella associations should be looking at having adequate insurance to cover players, not the national associations. Something has to give as injuries on international duty can seriously knacker a clubs chances and the clubs pay the players wages out of our hard-earned ticket money.

posted by walrus at 07:33 PM on October 16, 2006

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