Rummenigge sets 2014 deadline for change

European Club Association (ECA) chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge on Wednesday warned that Europe's big clubs have set a deadline of 2014 for FIFA and UEFA to bring about necessary calendar changes or risk their partnership with football's governing bodies not being renewed. "The clubs are committed to accepting the statutes of FIFA and UEFA until 2014, but the two institutions also know that an ECA resolution exists not to extend this contract if there are not radical changes in favour of the clubs," Rummenigge told Sport Bild. The Bayern Munich president also lamented the fact that "UEFA have aleady sold the television rights to the Champions League until 2015, without having the mandate of the clubs beyond 2014". Among the other issues of discord cited by Rummenigge was the non implemented promise "to organise all continental events, like the Euro, the African Nations Cup, the Copa America and the Asian Cup every four years at the same time". He also called again for the number of international matches to be reduced "with a very limited number of friendlies" and for the season to begin in January "with a one-month preparation, eight months assigned to the clubs, two months to the national sides and a one-month holiday for the players".