War on FIFA! Al-Khelaifi plots a shadow confederation of world clubs

Nasser Al-Khelaifi is preparing football's next power grab: a new global body of clubs designed to challenge FIFA itself.

Details: According to Ben Jacobs, the PSG president plans to create World Football Clubs as soon as possible as part of the expansion of the EFC, the European clubs' organization. The project is viewed as an unofficial sixth confederation, built to challenge FIFA and Gianni Infantino's grip on power. It comes as Al-Khelaifi prepares to meet UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin in Salzburg this week.

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The timing is explosive. Football is already in open civil war: UEFA and CONCACAF have opposed Infantino's plans, federations have threatened boycotts of FIFA tournaments, and Ceferin even pushed Al-Khelaifi to run against Infantino for the FIFA presidency, an offer the Qatari rejected. Instead, he appears to be building his own power base from the club side. Ceferin, meanwhile, wants the EFC to withdraw its support for the Club World Cup, FIFA's flagship project. Every road in this battle now leads through Salzburg.

It's worth noting that whoever controls the clubs controls the calendar, the money and ultimately the game. If World Football Clubs becomes reality, Infantino would face the most serious challenge to FIFA's authority since the Super League, and this time the rebels are already inside the building.

Reminder: Stunning refusal! Al-Khelaïfi rejects Ceferin's push to challenge Infantino for FIFA presidency