SOCCEREX London Forum
5th April 2006. Highlights of the day.
1. MAN UTD want a slice of the World Cup Cake:
At the SOCCEREX London Forum today, Manchester United’s CEO, David Gill called for compensation for clubs releasing players for international duty in competitions like the World Cup. This goes beyond the G14’s current demand for Associations or Federations to take out insurance to cover injuries to players on national duty.
This would involve diverting some of the large sums of money, which FIFA and UEFA currently make from the TV rights & sponsorship deals for their prestigious competitions, directly to the Clubs who provide the players for the national teams.
As David Gill commented at Soccerex;
“We believe that our players are the assets providing the income, in respect to the World Cup…producing a huge profit. The belief of the Club is that these assets providing these profits are being paid for by the clubs"
2. European Leagues support G14:
At the ‘Global Leagues Panel’ at the SOCCEREX London Forum, representatives of three of Europe’s major leagues expressed considerable support for some of G14’s demands. General Secretary of the LFP (French League), Jean-Pierre Hugues indicated that some of the changes desired by Europe’s leading Clubs were legitimate demands, and Bundesliga CEO, Christian Seifert, concurred. President of the Spanish La Liga, Jose Luis Astiazaran – with founders of G14, Real Madrid, in their midst – also joined the general support for Europe’s elite.
3. Diving in Premiership – not a problem:
Over 400 delegates from the power brokers in world football attended the event and were surveyed on a number of issues throughout the day.
The survey revealed that;
· 69% of senior decision makers in football believe that diving is NOT a serious threat to the Premiership.
· And 62% of delegates believe live video technology SHOULD be used during games to support referee’s decisions.
4. West Brom fight on:
Despite Birmingham’s surprise victory over Bolton on Tuesday night, West Brom Manager, Bryan Robson demonstrated the determination off the field that he showed on it. He claimed his boys would “fight on till the end” in the battle to stay in the Premiership.
5. Geoff Hurst prays for no hat-tricks:
During his opening address at the SOCCEREX London Forum, England’s hat-trick hero, Geoff Hurst, fervently hoped no one player would score three goals in the World Cup Final in Germany this summer.
“I hope Rooney gets 2, Owen gets 2 – and we beat Brazil 4-0 in the Final,” he said.
Hurst is the only player in the history of the game to hit a hat-trick in a World Final when England beat Germany at Wembley, 1966.
1. MAN UTD want a slice of the World Cup Cake:
At the SOCCEREX London Forum today, Manchester United’s CEO, David Gill called for compensation for clubs releasing players for international duty in competitions like the World Cup. This goes beyond the G14’s current demand for Associations or Federations to take out insurance to cover injuries to players on national duty.
This would involve diverting some of the large sums of money, which FIFA and UEFA currently make from the TV rights & sponsorship deals for their prestigious competitions, directly to the Clubs who provide the players for the national teams.
As David Gill commented at Soccerex;
“We believe that our players are the assets providing the income, in respect to the World Cup…producing a huge profit. The belief of the Club is that these assets providing these profits are being paid for by the clubs"
2. European Leagues support G14:
At the ‘Global Leagues Panel’ at the SOCCEREX London Forum, representatives of three of Europe’s major leagues expressed considerable support for some of G14’s demands. General Secretary of the LFP (French League), Jean-Pierre Hugues indicated that some of the changes desired by Europe’s leading Clubs were legitimate demands, and Bundesliga CEO, Christian Seifert, concurred. President of the Spanish La Liga, Jose Luis Astiazaran – with founders of G14, Real Madrid, in their midst – also joined the general support for Europe’s elite.
3. Diving in Premiership – not a problem:
Over 400 delegates from the power brokers in world football attended the event and were surveyed on a number of issues throughout the day.
The survey revealed that;
· 69% of senior decision makers in football believe that diving is NOT a serious threat to the Premiership.
· And 62% of delegates believe live video technology SHOULD be used during games to support referee’s decisions.
4. West Brom fight on:
Despite Birmingham’s surprise victory over Bolton on Tuesday night, West Brom Manager, Bryan Robson demonstrated the determination off the field that he showed on it. He claimed his boys would “fight on till the end” in the battle to stay in the Premiership.
5. Geoff Hurst prays for no hat-tricks:
During his opening address at the SOCCEREX London Forum, England’s hat-trick hero, Geoff Hurst, fervently hoped no one player would score three goals in the World Cup Final in Germany this summer.
“I hope Rooney gets 2, Owen gets 2 – and we beat Brazil 4-0 in the Final,” he said.
Hurst is the only player in the history of the game to hit a hat-trick in a World Final when England beat Germany at Wembley, 1966.