Blatter suspends World Cup plan

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has agreed to shelve plans for a World Cup every two years until the end of the next decade.

At a meeting with UEFA representatives this morning Blatter offered his compromise on the plan that is still opposed by the European governing body.

As reported here yesterday the plan for a World Cup every two years will now be delayed until at least 2009 and Blatter has linked its survival with ongoing attempts to harmonise world fixture lists. That project should be completed in 18 months time and until them Blatter will suspend his campaigning for the World Cup revolution and the matter will not be put to the vote at FIFA's next conference in Los Angeles in July.

The delay in the proposals will please European football chiefs who were dismayed at the scheduling chaos that could ensue with an extra round of qualification and the prospective loss of their own international championships to make way for the revised World Cup.

FIFA's programme planners are now faced with trying to create a window in the calendar form a second World Cup if Blatter wants to idea to survive.