Football: Crunch transfer meeting for FIFA and UEFA
Football's two warring governing bodies are to meet in Zurich today to try to hammer out a peace deal and get talks on changes to the transfer system back on track.
European football's UEFA are furious that world body FIFA have sent new proposals to the European Commission suggesting players be allowed to walk out of clubs in the middle of a contract if, for example, they disagree with the manager's tactics.
They have demanded the document be withdrawn - and also requested today's meeting. Until now, the pair have worked together in negotiations with the EC.
Mike Lee, UEFA's communications director, said: "We are insisting this proposal is withdrawn. We are angry it was sent to the EC without Uefa being consulted."
Meanwhile, the Premier League have backed UEFA in their condemnation of FIFA but have also called for unity.
Following yesterday's Premier League meeting, chief executive Richard Scudamore released a statement saying: "The clubs expressed their concern at recent developments and condemned FIFA for its action in submitting new proposals to the EC without any consultation with UEFA.
"We hope that relations between UEFA and FIFA can be restored for the good of the game because it is felt that our best chance of achieving a satisfactory outcome with the EC is by maintaining as much unity as possible.
"In the interests of achieving a good resolution to the transfer issue we hope that the leagues, UEFA and FIFA can all work together and concentrate their resources on winning the argument with the EC and (international players' union) FIFPro based on the proposals of the original negotiation document."
Another decision taken was on the start date of next season, and Saturday August 18 was confirmed as the opening day of the 2001-2002 Premiership.
Other items on the agenda concerned sponsorship deals and transfer rights.
Carling and Budweiser are rivals to sponsor the league for the next three seasons, but it would be a huge surprise if Carling's bid was not successful.
Carling, the Premiership's first and until now only sponsor, are believed to have upped their original £39m offer to higher than Budweiser's £45m.
No decision was taken by the chairmen but it is expected the deal will be finalised within the next fortnight.
Similarly, the chairmen were briefed on developments in talks over broadcasting deals for pay-per-view TV, overseas rights, and proposed changes to ITV's highlights deal for next season - ITV want to show the package at 6pm on a Saturday rather than 7pm.
