Derico From Argentina, joined Dec 1999, 4233 posts, RR: 13 Posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 2068 times:
Brazil and Argentina for the first time have openly mulled the possibility of boycotting the World Cup together. While this has not been stated in 'official' channels, some lower ranking officials on both football associations have said that in within the next 20 years this might happen because of the increased harrasement of European clubs to allow any semblance of a national squad to be assembled by either.
What would be the consequence on FIFA and the World Cup if this were to happen?
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LTU932 From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 13864 posts, RR: 51 Reply 1, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 2057 times:
Quoting Derico (Thread starter): While this has not been stated in 'official' channels, some lower ranking officials on both football associations have said that in within the next 20 years this might happen because of the increased harrasement of European clubs to allow any semblance of a national squad to be assembled by either.
I don't understand what you mean in the highlighted part. I also don't understand why any UEFA member federation would harrass both of them with regards to their national teams.
Quoting Derico (Thread starter): What would be the consequence on FIFA and the World Cup if this were to happen?
I think a boycott by Brazil and Argentina could be more of a double-edged sword for them. They could either benefit from it by having others following them suit and making this more of a global boycott, or otherwise FIFA could impose sanctions on both federations for violating whatever FIFA statute involved.
Usnseallt82 From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 4891 posts, RR: 55 Reply 3, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1968 times:
Derico From Argentina, joined Dec 1999, 4233 posts, RR: 13 Reply 4, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 1942 times:
Quoting LTU932 (Reply 1): I don't understand what you mean in the highlighted part. I also don't understand why any UEFA member federation would harrass both of them with regards to their national teams.
Oh there is a HUGE rift that has developed between UEFA and CONMEBOL (which from the European view, correctly or not, are mainly Brazil and Argentina), because of the South American qualifyer system, which last two years and creates huge tensions between the European clubs that pay millions for those players that have to then go for two years to play for their national teams.
Even within UEFA itself you see the huge divide between the top-notch European Clubs, to the point they want to create their own league.
FIFA gets a lot of money from Brazil and Argentina merchandising, from promotions to memorabilia. Remember that in countries in Asia and Africa, these two teams (specially Brazil), are by far the most popular. You see t-shirts from those two teams all over, and during World Cups in those countries half the country goes for one team or another and you see many flags, etc.
This was just a debate question, which was brought up in a local show, it is not the wishes of either football federation, or even the officials that said this, it was just a hypothetical.
It was said that the World Cup would go on, and it would I would think. But any 'World Champion' in a tournament where the teams did not have to go through and sweat it out with Brazil and Argentina would be trully meaningless and Europe and the rest of the world know it. In that sense, it would be the end of the World Cup.
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Speedbird747BA From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 1924 times:
I think that for many countries and most people, the end of the World Cup would be a very sad occasion indeed. The World Cup brings down divisions between countries, gives citizens national pride, and gives us some of the best football in the world. For me personally, I think that the happiest moment of my life would be if England won the Cup. Somehow though, I don't think that the Cup is an any peril. Brazil and Argentina would be a great loss to the Cup, but it would still go on.
David_itl From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2001, 7144 posts, RR: 14 Reply 6, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1905 times:
I believe FIFA lost all credibility when France being current European Champions and having just thumped Brazil in the World Cup Final in 1998 were still ranked below Brazil.
Quoting Derico (Reply 4): the South American qualifyer system
Yep, having all the countries in a single group makes the qualification process too long. Go to 2 groups of 5, the winners qualfiy. The two runners-up play off against each other - the winner qualifies and the loser goes into a play-off with Oceania.
ZRH From Switzerland, joined Nov 1999, 5535 posts, RR: 40 Reply 8, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 1868 times:
It would be sad when Brazil and Argentina didn't participate but it would not be the end of the WC. There are many other good teams. A strike would be a typical own-goal and very stupid.
Derico From Argentina, joined Dec 1999, 4233 posts, RR: 13 Reply 9, posted (6 years 7 months 1 week 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1843 times:
Quoting David_itl (Reply 6): Yep, having all the countries in a single group makes the qualification process too long. Go to 2 groups of 5, the winners qualfiy. The two runners-up play off against each other - the winner qualifies and the loser goes into a play-off with Oceania.
The problem is South America does not have 50 countries like the other continents do in which to do a shorter but still long enough qualifyer to make it worth.
For example, had the short tournament system been applied in 2002, Brazil would have missed the World Cup entirely, and they became World Champions that year! But for those of us in South America, specially Brazilians, they remember that qualifyer: Brazil barely made it at the last day. Without those few extra games they would have been out on points. Argentina would probably miss a world cup or two also, as it almost did in 1994.
Which is why even FIFA has been rather quiet in forcing CONMEBOL to change or else. They could do so, and have head faked a few times, but always go back on it.
They are really afraid that Brazil or Argentina could miss qualifying because of a slow start, specially since those two countries are by far the most affected by players being overseas, which means they can't play together and coalesce. Other teams in the region would have much more time and practice to get a group of players together and in a short tournament that could be key.
That is why the issue was brought up, because it is a very complicated situation. UEFA accomodates for European qualifying dates. They do not (nor are they obligated really), for South American dates.
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