World Cup!

[Black Dog]

I wonder how all the domestic leagues that will have to rejig their schedules for this will react? Are the Premiership, Bundsliga, La Liga, Champions League all to shut down for a minimum of three months to accommodate FIFA's skullduggery?

When will we see another big games in the West? 2024 at the earliest? Will big ticket events like these matter as much to the West after a decade and a half events in Asia?

Probably never as most western countries have clued in that these mega events are nothing but scams.

[overthere]

I wonder how all the domestic leagues that will have to rejig their schedules for this will react? Are the Premiership, Bundsliga, La Liga, Champions League all to shut down for a minimum of three months to accommodate FIFA's skullduggery?

They will lose, at minimum. all the best players in the world through the heart of their seasons.

What will be the cost to every major soccer league on the planet? Billions?

I suspect the soccer world, the one with all their money about to be pissed away by FIFA, will not stand for it.

This might be the nail in Blattlers coffin.

[Boges]

They will lose, at minimum. all the best players in the world through the heart of their seasons.

What will be the cost to every major soccer league on the planet? Billions?

I suspect the soccer world, the one with all their money about to be pissed away by FIFA, will not stand for it.

This might be the nail in Blattlers coffin.

Blatter faces an election in May http://www.espnfc.com/blog/marcotti-musings/62/post/2269043/sepp-blatter-faces-figofive-others-in-fifa-election-gabriele-marcotti

I know the MLS is a bush league but they function during the WC.

These leagues could start the season a bit early and go a bit late. Is the Christmas season the big money time for UEFA leagues anyway?

Edited February 24, 2015 by Boges

[overthere]

your link does not link.

Does MLS they have any players that go to the World Cup?

The Qatar World Cup is in the heart of the European season.

Blattler has put himself in a no win situation here, though perhaps he knows he won't be around in 2022 so does not care what he passes to the next Head Thief.

Qatar has bought and paid for the event, so somebody will have to refund the massive graft that bought it if FIFA cancels.

[Boges]

your link does not link.

Does MLS they have any players that go to the World Cup?

The Qatar World Cup is in the heart of the European season.

Blattler has put himself in a no win situation here, though perhaps he knows he won't be around in 2022 so does not care what he passes to the next Head Thief.

Qatar has bought and paid for the event, so somebody will have to refund the massive graft that bought it if FIFA cancels.

Not to mention the lives lost building the stadiums.

I know Toronto FC lost Mike Bradley for a few months, Brazil's goalie actually played for Toronto FC too. MLS does have a few WC calibre players.

I think these leagues can still function without these stars. It's not like they would have to shutdown the EPL for 3 months. What's the percentage of players that participate in the WC vs how many actually play in these leagues?

I'm not saying it's ideal, but it's better than players dying from heatstroke in June.

Edited February 24, 2015 by Boges

[guyser]

Does MLS they have any players that go to the World Cup?

The goalie for FC plays for the Brazil Nat'l team.

[guyser]

Think of it like this.

Good...

-something to watch when the weather has turned. (being inside watching agame in summer is ug)

-Whoever wins likely wont clog the streets for any length of time...too damn cold.

Bad...

-I have nothing...

[Boges]

The goalie for FC plays for the Brazil Nat'l team.

He did. Never returned to the team after the WC.

I think the MLS provides a lot of these international players a chance to prove themselves so they can get back into a top league. See Jermaine Dafoe leaving after one season.

[Boges]

Think of it like this.

Good...

-something to watch when the weather has turned. (being inside watching agame in summer is ug)

-Whoever wins likely wont clog the streets for any length of time...too damn cold.

Yeah because the NFL, NHL and NBA aren't on at the same time or anything.

[guyser]

Yeah because the NFL, NHL and NBA aren't on at the same time or anything.

Yawn....mid season for all of them.

Well ok, the NFL isnt, but yes....yawn....Can you tell not a big NFL fan?

[overthere]

I think these leagues can still function without these stars. It's not like they would have to shutdown the EPL for 3 months. What's the percentage of players that participate in the WC vs how many actually play in these leagues?

I'm not saying it's ideal, but it's better than players dying from heatstroke in June.

But every major soccer league in the world would lose their biggest draws for at least two months and their compensation is..... zero.

In the past, all they had to worry about was injuries to their money machines.

This is professional sports at the highest level.

Somebody has to pay.

Owners will claim and correctly that they have paid monster money by investing in these players. Risk and certain loss is not an incentive to cooperate, although there is big national pressure to release stars for these events. But not when it is long term and mid season, that does not seem reasonable to me.

The owners will step up and change things. Perhaps Blattler, perhaps the timing, perhaps the venue and the timing, perhaps all those things. Owners of Man U and Real Madrid won't be bribed by free trips and sparkly things.

[Black Dog]

Not to mention the lives lost building the stadiums.

I know Toronto FC lost Mike Bradley for a few months, Brazil's goalie actually played for Toronto FC too. MLS does have a few WC calibre players.

A good chunk of the last USMNT played in MLS.

I think these leagues can still function without these stars. It's not like they would have to shutdown the EPL for 3 months. What's the percentage of players that participate in the WC vs how many actually play in these leagues?

We're talking about all the best players, most of which play on the best (and most lucrative) teams in their respective leagues: Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich etc. It would also mean losing a big piece of the UEFA Champions league group stage which generates huge revenue for participating clubs.

I'm not saying it's ideal, but it's better than players dying from heatstroke in June.

Yeah if only there was some alternative like holding the tournament elsewhere or not awarding a summer tournament to hell's bakery in the first place.

[guyser]

This is professional sports at the highest level.

SO is the Olympics and Hockey seemed to do just fine.

Somebody has to pay.

Owners will claim and correctly that they have paid monster money by investing in these players. Risk and certain loss is not an incentive to cooperate, although there is big national pressure to release stars for these events. But not when it is long term and mid season, that does not seem reasonable to me.

If the concern is monetary, they have and do pay to insure the salaries fo the stars participating, just like hockey, baseball etc. when they have these 'World' things.

[overthere]

SO is the Olympics and Hockey seemed to do just fine.

Yet both the NHL and NHLPA have grumbled about particpating at the Olympics for a while. If they'd been held anywhere other than Sochi, the mens hocley might not have happened. The Russian players insisted. But the next winter Olys are in Korea, and I would not be too sure that the NHL will go unless they are paid for their time. Not the players, the owners. After all , they still pay the players and they take direct losses. It's one reason why the NHL and NHLPA resurrected the World Cup of Hockey- it provides a marketing opportunity if the NHL decides not to go to Korea.

If the concern is monetary, they have and do pay to insure the salaries fo the stars participating, just like hockey, baseball etc. when they have these 'World' things.

But the organizer don't pay the salaries, and nobody is going to forfeit their paycheque. So the owners get nailed twice- having to pay a monster salary bill since only the very best go to Qatar, and they lose revenue if the leagues shut down. Thats a big hit, and for what? To watch an execrable turd of an organization like FIFA get rich?

Baseball does not play in international events during the season for these reasons. And you'll have noted that many of the best players do not play or are severely restricted- by their owners.

The NHL and the soccer leagues want a cut of the massive gravy that is generated by their presence. Seems fair to me.

[Boges]

UEFA will probably be have to be compensated.

But other leagues around the world don't matter all that much.

[guyser]

But the organizer don't pay the salaries, and nobody is going to forfeit their paycheque.

Dont be so sure that Qatar wont, one way or another, funnel the money back to them in order to have the best of the best.

[Black Dog]

UEFA will probably be have to be compensated.

But other leagues around the world don't matter all that much.

Not sure if serious...

[Boges]

Not sure if serious...

UEFA is the league where the best in the world go.

When Hockey stops because of the Olympics, no one cares how it effects the Swedish Elite League.

Here's a bit of analysis on how this will effect leagues.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31600194

Many of Europe's top leagues wanted an April-May solution to minimise disruption to their domestic programmes, not to mention the impact on the Champions League and Europa League.

According to English Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore, European leagues and clubs will "suffer the most".

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chairman of the European Club Association, added that European clubs and leagues cannot be expected to bear the costs for any rescheduling.

"We expect the clubs to be compensated for the damage that a final decision would cause," said the German.

And Frederic Thiriez, president of the French football league and the European Professional Football Leagues, described it as "probably the most terrible decision" for domestic competitions.

Asked about a potential boycott from European leagues, Thiriez said: "I don't want to threaten or say we will do this or that. Let's wait for the final decision on 19 March. Then we will see what we'll do. Everybody's trying to find a solution. I'm trying to defend the interests of the leagues in Europe.

"It is the national leagues in Europe who guarantee the life of football in Europe. It's not the World Cup, neither the Champions League. It is the domestic championships. This is the heart of football."

However, Savo Milosevic, vice-president of the Serbian Football Association, said his country could benefit.

"Switching it to November and December is a good decision in my opinion and one that would also play into Serbia's hands if we qualify because it would practically coincide with our winter break," he said.

European governing body Uefa also backed the taskforce, insisting it "sees no major issues in rescheduling its competitions".

What about the rest of the world?

African officials agree with the taskforce, even though they will almost certainly have to move the 2023 African Cup of Nations from its January-February slot.

Confederation of African Football's director of communications Junior Binyam said it was backing the proposal "100%".

It's likely to be a similar tale with the Asian Football Confederation, given Sheikh Salman is president of that particular body

As for North America, the Major League Soccer season will be unaffected given it runs from March until October.

Edited February 24, 2015 by Boges

[Boges]

And member overthere is right, the only way the NHL goes to Korea is if the IOC gives the NHL some money. Especially considering the next Olympics will be back in an Old Soviet nation or China.

I've heard musing that a good compromise would be having the World Juniors be the Olympics every 4 years. Everyone knows how much Canadians love that thing. What will Canadians do on Boxing Day though?

Edited February 24, 2015 by Boges

[Black Dog]

UEFA is the league where the best in the world go.

When Hockey stops because of the Olympics, no one cares how it effects the Swedish Elite League.

Hockey isn't nearly the global game that soccer is. The Olympics is also a much lesser commitment. Apples and oranges.

Here's a bit of analysis on how this will effect leagues.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/31600194

Oh so the only domestic leagues effected will be the biggest, most lucrative leagues. NBD.

[Boges]

Hockey isn't nearly the global game that soccer is. The Olympics is also a much lesser commitment. Apples and oranges.

Oh so the only domestic leagues effected will be the biggest, most lucrative leagues. NBD.

How many great African players are playing in African leagues? And if there are any, they're departure wouldn't kill the league over the period of the World Cup. Certainly the best South American players play in Europe.

UEFA has the best leagues and the great majority of the players that will actually be playing in the World Cup, they're leagues that stand to lose the most over this. This WC would also effect the Champions League the multiple other European and National Tournaments (FA Cup as an example) that go on during this time of year.

Notice the FIFA doesn't give a crap that the MLS is effected by the World Cup during its traditional time? And there are some WC players that play in the league as mentioned previously in the thread.

Edited February 24, 2015 by Boges

[Black Dog]

How many great African players are playing in African leagues? And if there are any, they're departure wouldn't kill the league over the period of the World Cup. Certainly the best South American players play in Europe.

That's my point. Most of the world's best players are playing in Europe.

UEFA has the best leagues and the great majority of the players that will actually be playing in the World Cup, they're leagues that stand to lose the most over this. This WC would also effect the Champions League the multiple other European and National Tournaments (FA Cup as an example) that go on during this time of year.

Which I've been saying all along.

Notice the FIFA doesn't give a crap that the MLS is effected by the World Cup during its traditional time? And there are some WC players that play in the league as mentioned previously in the thread.

There were 31 players from all of the MLS who played in the world cup last year. As a matter of perspectivem there were 22 players from England's national team alone from the Premier League. Half of Germany's Cup-winning squad came from Bayern Munich. So yeah, disrupting those elagues is a bit different than the MLS.

[Guest]

I have to say that I find it very hard to believe that they didn't see this coming when they awarded the WC to Qatar in the first place. The Mafia hold FIFA in high regard when it comes to corruption.

Edited February 25, 2015 by bcsapper

[Wilber]

I'm looking forward to the Rugby World Cup this fall. Canada is actually in it.

[Guest]

I'm enjoying watching the Cricket World Cup right now.