Luis Figo Outlines Plans to Increase FIFA World Cup to 48 Teams
February 19, 2015
Luis Figo says he will propose expanding the FIFA World Cup to 48 teams should he win the world governing body’s presidential election in May.
At London’s Wembley Stadium on Thursday, pills the Portuguese former footballer officially launched his manifesto for leadership of the organisation in front of a packed media suite.
While redistributing funds and grassroots were key parts of his document, one of the most interesting aspects of his proposals was the idea of making the World Cup even bigger than it is by increasing the number of teams involved.
“I want to have an open debate on future of most popular event on the planet” he said.
“We should consider proposals to expand the tournament from 32 to 40 or even 48 teams. Both these are possible with an extra three or four days of play.
“Additional teams should come from non-European nations.”
That idea would have a significant positive impact on the sponsorship and broadcasting rights in the tournament. With more games one would imagine that means; more money.
But on the issue of FIFA’s money, Figo said he wanted to return it to the member associations – insisting that it be spent on improving opportunities in grassroots football around the world.
“I am proposing 50 per cent of FIFA revenue $2.5billion distributed to national associations over four years” he said.
“The national reserves should be freed up and invested in football development.
“I am proposing $1billion of FIFA’s reserves returned to FIFA associations. This money is not FIFA money. It is the money of FIFA associations and it should be spent on football. I have set out in my manifesto how this would work. The impact of these proposals would mean $8-12million distributed to every association over four years.”
Currently, $375,000 is distributed to FIFA member associations every year whereas Figo’s manifesto is proposing increasing that to $2million.
FIFA votes for the presidency on May 29 in Zurich. They will choose from Figo, Dutch FA president Michael van Praag, executive committee member and vice-president Prince Ali bin al-Hussein and of course current president Sepp Blatter.
Blatter has been in charge of the organisation for 17 years but that is a concept Figo would not consider if he were president. In his manifesto he says that he will “propose to the congress a term limit for the FIFA president of a maximum 12 year period”.
A similar idea was rejected by the FIFA congress last year. But with Seb Coe this week also advocating 12 year term limits in his bid for the International Association of Athletics Federation presidency, there is a sense that the sporting world is looking to become more restrained in how long people stay in power.
To implement that, Figo would have to win the election in unprecedented circumstances as Blatter continues to wield significant support from around the world – particularly in Africa.
On this point, Figo said: “I am aware that the African continent will be one of the obstacles to overcome. I am working towards getting as much as support for my candidacy through my manifesto and ideas.
“We won’t have confirmation until the 29th [May] but I trust I can manage this and achieve this.”
Watch the Special Report of the Luis Figo press conference on iSportconnect TV.
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