Transfer talks in danger

Transfer talks in danger
REUTERS

LONDON, MARCH 2: Talks between soccer’s governing bodies FIFA and UEFA and the European Commission (EC) over a new transfer system have hit two obstacles which could delay an agreement, according to a letter obtained by Reuters on Friday.

Monday’s scheduled meeting between FIFA president Sepp Blatter, UEFA president Lennart Johansson, and EC Commissioners Mario Monti, Anna Diamontopoulou and Viviane Reding is now in jeopardy and may not take place, Reuters understands.

If it does go ahead, it is unlikely to be the final meeting to resolve the long-running saga. The two issues involve sporting sanctions for players who break their contracts and compensation to smaller clubs who develop players aged 23 and under.

Reuters has obtained a letter sent by UEFA’s Chief Executive Gerhard Aigner to Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson, the current EU president, saying that unless EC officials change their stance on these issues, all hopes of resolving the dispute over the transfer system could end.