European football clubs opposed to more teams in World Cup

The European Club Association (ECA) has announced its strong opposition to expanding the number of national football teams in the FIFA World Cup from 32 to 40.

In a press conference held on Tuesday during the ECA's general assembly, the association's vice-president and CEO of AC Milan, Umberto Gandini said: "The clubs acknowledge the importance of national teams to the federations but we have a responsibility to the players."

FIFA's reform committee proposed an initiative to increase the number of teams participating in the World Cup, which the ECA considered a "burden on the players", reports Efe.

After two days of meetings between members of 143 European football clubs, the ECA said the healthy balance between national teams and clubs must not be subjected to a threat.

ECA includes 220 clubs, and has two representatives in the European football governing body's executive committee, but does not have the right to vote in the FIFA elections.