5
1
Username
Password
Arsene Wenger In FIFA Blast
By Michael Lynch January 27 2004
FIFA have scheduled a one-off exhibition match between France and Brazil just two days before the FA Cup final in May and this has upset Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

Arsene Wenger is sick of games and tournements which are of no interest to fans being played- especially when they are being played so close to important matches.

France Vs. Brazil (friendly) is taking place a day before he FA Cup final. If Arsenal make it there, this will be a problem for the highly French side.

"This (exhibition) game will be a problem for the FA Cup final but also for other countries as well," Wenger said.

"I don't say it's disrespectful to clubs but I feel it's like tennis when you have too many competitions without any worry of quality and the interest of people is decreased," the Frenchman added.

"The only interest is financial, it's not sport. For one simple reason - the best players all play in Europe and the Club World Championship has less interest than the Champions League.

"In Brazil in 2000, when an Australian club played against Manchester United, there was no one in the stadium as they didn't find it interesting.

"So we might consider it purely for financial reasons but the responsibility of FIFA is to keep the level of football high and always try to push it higher.

"What people enjoy is to see the best against the best. It's happening in the Champions League, but it wouldn't happen in the Club World Championship."

Latest English Football Headlines
Last 10 stories:

Bookmark or share this story with: