European football supremo, Michel Platini, has suggested expanding
the World Cup to 40 teams, in order to preserve the large contingent
from his continent.
Platini made the suggestion in Monday’s edition of The Times, after
the head of the world football governing body FIFA, Joseph Blatter, said
last week that Africa and Asia were badly underrepresented.
Blatter did not mention an expansion from the current 32-team format but has said previously that Asia and Africa should get more places, at the expense of Europe and South America.
“I totally agree with Mr Blatter that we need more African and Asian (teams). But instead of taking away some European, we have to go to 40 teams in the World Cup,’’ Platini said.
The Frenchman said that FIFA has grown to 209 members, which should
also show in World Cup team numbers, possibly from 2018 in Russia
onwards.
“There are more countries so why reduce? Forty is not so bad.
“You have three days more of competition and you make more people happy,’’ Platini said, adding that each of the eight groups would then feature five, instead of four teams.
For the next edition in 2014, Europe have 13 berths, South America 4.5 (plus directly entered hosts Brazil), Africa 5 and Asia 4.5.
The World Cup had 16 teams from the second edition 1934 onwards, was increased to 24 in 1982 and to 32 in 1998.
Europe’s showcase event, the European championships, will be increased from 16 to 24 teams from France 2016 onwards.
Platini is UEFA boss and FIFA vice-president. He is seen as a candidate for the FIFA presidency in 2015. Blatter may seek a fifth term then, as well. (dpa/NAN)
Blatter did not mention an expansion from the current 32-team format but has said previously that Asia and Africa should get more places, at the expense of Europe and South America.
“I totally agree with Mr Blatter that we need more African and Asian (teams). But instead of taking away some European, we have to go to 40 teams in the World Cup,’’ Platini said.
“There are more countries so why reduce? Forty is not so bad.
“You have three days more of competition and you make more people happy,’’ Platini said, adding that each of the eight groups would then feature five, instead of four teams.
For the next edition in 2014, Europe have 13 berths, South America 4.5 (plus directly entered hosts Brazil), Africa 5 and Asia 4.5.
The World Cup had 16 teams from the second edition 1934 onwards, was increased to 24 in 1982 and to 32 in 1998.
Europe’s showcase event, the European championships, will be increased from 16 to 24 teams from France 2016 onwards.
Platini is UEFA boss and FIFA vice-president. He is seen as a candidate for the FIFA presidency in 2015. Blatter may seek a fifth term then, as well. (dpa/NAN)
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