European clubs head for clash with FIFA

Europe's leading clubs warned FIFA on Wednesday they were ready to stop players taking part in the Confederations Cup in June unless football's governing body stopped adding to an already congested fixture list.

There was also virtual unanimity amongst over 100 club representatives in the European Club Forum in opposing the World Club Championship, which FIFA wants to revive in 2005.

"This was one of the topics where there was virtually 100 percent opinion, that there should not be a World Club Championship," Arsenal's chief executive and vice-chairman David Dein insisted.

Club executives told a press conference that players would suffer without a full summer break and stated strong opposition to the growing number of international matches especially in the summer break.

"We don't see any sporting reason why such competitions should be played," Umberto Gandini, chief executive of AC Milan said.

The executives from English giants Arsenal and Manchester United and Italy's AC Milan warned that feelings were running high, and could spill over with the Confederations Cup.

"The thought is to withhold players," Dein said.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Monday he was considering staging the Confederations Cup every four years instead of two as a response to harsh criticism from clubs.

But he said it was too late to postpone this year's Confederations Cup, being held in France from June 18 to 29.

"I can tell you however that we are thinking of reducing its frequency by scheduling it every four years in the year before the World Cup," Blatter said in Paris.

Blatter said FIFA could not be blamed for a busy European schedule which he said UEFA was responsible for.