Viva La Revolucion!

Or something:


http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/26/europe-top-clubs-fifa-revolt

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the chairman of the European Club Association (ECA), has called for a club-led "revolution" against the "corrupt people" who govern football and called for his members to have a say in Fifa's decision-making process.

The 55-year-old chief executive officer of Bayern Munich said he despaired at what he described as the "daily corruption process at Fifa" and asked the footballing authorities "to recognise that it's time for democracy, transparency and the right balance in the football family".

"I don't accept any longer that we [should be] guided by people who are not serious and clean," he said. "Now is the moment to intervene. Because knowing something is wrong is an obligation to change."

The ECA replaced G14 as the representative body for the leading European clubs and numbers among its members Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. Rummenigge said there was a groundswell of public support for his stance in the wake of recent scandals, the life-ban for Mohamed bin Hammam and "questions about the Qatari World Cup".

"It's not just the top clubs, it's all the clubs," he said, adding that the feeling of discontent was felt strongest in Germany, Switzerland and England, where he has recently met the sports minister, Hugh Robertson, and club officials.

Fifa itself was unable to change, he said. "Sepp Blatter is saying [that he's cleaning up shop] but the fact that no one believes him tells you everything you need to know. I'm not optimistic because they believe the system is working perfectly as it is. It's a money machine, World Cup after World Cup. And for them, that's more important than serious and clean governance."

There was also, in his opinion, little chance that the national associations would exert pressure for reforms. "I don't believe [that they will get involved]. The current system is tailor-made for the associations and voted for by the associations. They won't go against [Fifa]." Having a representative of the clubs on Fifa's executive committee was not enough, he said. "I would go further. All stakeholders – clubs, associations, players, referees, and women's football – have a right to be involved in the decision-making process."

Rummenigge also professed himself unhappy with the amount of international games clogging up the fixture calendar. "When I won the European Championship [in 1980], there were eight teams in the finals. That figure will treble by 2016. In the World Cup, it used to be 16 teams, now it's 32. The clubs pay the players but are not part of the decision-making process.We are not treated respectfully."

Rummenigge hinted at a possible breakaway from international associations if the ECA's grievances over fixture congestion are not addressed. "I will give them a chance but I'm ready for a revolution if that's the only way to come to a solution," he said.

I think he's right on a lot of points (not the complaining about too many international matches, there's an awful lot more countries in the world now) But do you think they'd have the balls to pull this off?
Wouldn't it mean all players for the likes of the big clubs would be stripped of their international registration for world cups and things like that?
It sounds like an exasperated man at the end of his tether.

Jelle1880

All talk I'm afraid.

Although I'd back any sort of well-thought out revolution against FIFA.

bohsman

Rich clubs looking after their own interests would be no better than rich corrupt officials looking after their own self interests.

stovelid

Pappa Dolla wrote: »

Rummenigge also professed himself unhappy with the amount of international games clogging up the fixture calendar.

The self-interested kernel of the matter I hear you say?

super_furry

Don't see his point about the doubling of teams in the Euros and World Cup, surely that's a good thing for football and the fans?

everdead.ie

stovelid wrote: »

The self-interested kernel of the matter I hear you say?

Well Ireland played like ten internationals this year thats an incredible amount its mad when the majority play 44+ games a year

stovelid

everdead.ie wrote: »

Well Ireland played like ten internationals this year thats an incredible amount its mad when the majority play 44+ games a year

I don't doubt it.

I'm just not buying the altruistic knight aspect of the criticism.

Degag

He'll probably be banned from football now for saying that.