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FIFA and European Clubs Sign Peace Deal

By Mark

After years of tension, nasty press conferences, threats and lawsuits, peace has come to European soccer. The big European clubs that comprised G14, the mathematically challenged group that consisted of 18 of Europe's largest and most successful soccer clubs signed a peace agreement with FIFA and UEFA yesterday, reaching agreement to players called up for national team duty and on the two most contentious issues separating them. FIFA agreed to pay compensation to the clubs for injuries that occurredFIFA and UEFA agreed to sit down and discuss more "equitable" distribution of television revenues between the clubs and the federations.

In return, G14 agreed to drop its two pending lawsuits. In addition, FIFA agreed to establish a new advisory body composed of about 100 European clubs that would be added to the formal governing structure. It would have no authority but would be a formal body and would be consulted on matters. That alone was a major concession as FIFA has always been resistant to club influence on its matters. The G14 organization will dissolve later this month.

Settling the compensation issue is a major step forward. Clubs deserve to be compensated for releasing players who are injured while on national team duty and then returned to the club only to sit out for months. You only have to look at the Michael Owen situation to see the problem - he was injured while with England and lost for most of the season while Newcastle fell out of all European competition. It cost the club millions. Some compensation is warranted and will go a long ways towards ending the club v. country battles that now take place.

Full post as published by Sports Biz on January 16, 2008 (boomark / email).