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Fifa holds back on world football plan

Fifa has had to postpone for a second time plans to create new global football competitions. One can either see it as further resistance to the globalisation of the game or a turf fight between two wealthy and powerful organisations.

For months Fifa has been in talks with a consortium of international investors led by Japan's SoftBank. They had pledged to inject $25bn into a Fifa-controlled joint venture that would expand the Club World Cup, an annual competition between seven of the globe's top clubs. There would also be a new league for national sides.

Uefa viewed the plan as a threat to the Champions League which draws about $2.5bn in broadcasting and sponsorship revenues each year. Fifa council members also felt they had insufficient information about the composition of the investor group. It is thought they are from China, Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Fifa president Gianni Infantio want to push the plan through at a meeting of Fifa's governing council last week, but instead it has been referred to a task force of regional confederation presidents which will report back in March.

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