Will Europe split from FIFA to hold alternative World Cup in 2018?

Football playing nations of Europe are expected to meet on Friday to probably discuss plans of splitting from FIFA and to hold an alternative World Cup in 2018.

The European plan to boycott the tournament which is due to be held in Russia is being reported by The Independent, which said that it may involve European teams and some invited South American countries.

Allan Hansen, 66, a retired Danish detective who sits on UEFA's executive committee, was quoted by the paper, as saying that boycotting the 2018 World Cup finals and setting up a rival tournament was the only way to reform football's scandal-plagued governing body.

The paper further quotes Hansen, as saying that there was a preliminary meeting before last Friday's FIFA's election in Zurich, and a proposal to 54 UEFA-linked nations was made.

This Friday's meeting will take place in Berlin ahead of the Champions League final.

A final decision on a boycott would be made at the UEFA conference in Malta on September 17. Hansen described a boycott and rival tournament as "the most radical option".