Leagues warn biennial World Cup will hit game

Ten European women’s leagues have warned FIFA that plans for biennial men’s and women’s World Cups will have a “profoundly detrimental” impact on the female game.

FIFA is proposing to shorten the gap between the men’s and women’s showpiece events from four years to two, as part of changes to the new international calendar.

The Women's Super League and Championship in England are among 10 European competitions to sign a statement issued yesterday, along with the continent’s governing body UEFA and the European Club Association, which called for FIFA to engage in a “genuine, joint and open forum” with women’s football stakeholders.

It said: “The proposed plans by FIFA to stage both the men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments every two years will have profoundly detrimental sporting, economic, societal and many other impacts that will fundamentally alter the course and development of the women's game.

“The fast-paced nature of the (so far) very selective consultation process and all-but agreed proposals have not allowed a careful reflection on what is in the best interests of the future development of women's football or adequately assessed the possible irreversible consequences such a change might entail.”

Former USA coach Jill Ellis, pictured inset, is leading a group working on proposals for the women’s calendar, alongside a similar group overseen by ex-arsenal manager Arsene Wenger looking at the men’s game. Less has been seen of Ellis’ proposals, though from Wenger’s plans it is clear the Women’s World Cup would have to take place in the same summer as a major men’s tournament.

The statement set out a list of problems the signatories felt the proposals would create, including adding further congestion to an already crowded women’s calendar and a lowering of sponsorship investment due to a saturation of the market. They also felt the additional men's competitions would hamper the visibility of the women's game.