Sport | Football
Blatter lays down Gulf Cup rules
Fifa President Sepp Blatter has put the ball in Gulf Cup organising committee's court to make the tournament part of the international calendar.
- By Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief
- Published: 23:33 January 14, 2009
- Image Credit: AP
- According to the Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, the current economic meltdown is likely to have an impact on the game.
Muscat: Fifa President Sepp Blatter has put the ball in Gulf Cup organising committee's court to make the tournament part of the international calendar.
"To be part of the international calendar, every edition of the tournament should be played on the same period of time," Blatter said at a press conference held at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel yesterday. The Fifa chief was in Muscat to watch the semi finals of the 19th Gulf Cup.
He also stressed that the Gulf Cup should have a permanent organising committee for the event to be included in Fifa calendar, which he pointed out was already overcrowded.
"There are certain regulations that must be followed for any event to be part of Fifa calendar," Blatter said.
Although Gulf Cup is a recognised tournament it is not on the Fifa calendar, thus teams sometimes face difficulties in getting professional players released from their respective clubs. "Participating nations have the right to call players for national duty and that is an ongoing discussion within Fifa," Blatter said.
As a start the chiefs of national football federations of the eight participating countries have decided that from 2010 the Gulf Cup would be held every December. However, Fifa wants the same dates for every edition of the tournament.
Besides hosts Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and Yemen take part in this biennial tournament, which Yemen will host next in December of 2010.
On the Gulf Cup being held every two years, Blatter said: "I have no issue with the tournament being held every two, three or four years but they must adhere to our conditions for the event to be included in our calendar."
The Asian Football Confederation President Mohammad Bin Hammam had suggested that Gulf Cup be held every four years rather than every two after attending the opening of the tournament being hosted by the Oman Football Association.
Blatter also warned that global economic recession will have its impact on the game. "Those who think that economic crisis will not impact the game are living in illusion," he said.
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