Paolo Maldini, AC Milan club technical area director, is against having a World Cup competition for the national teams every two years, which is rumoured to be the new direction that FIFA is heading to.
Here are Maldini's words to ANSA:
"I don't think that playing the World Cup every two years is a good idea, this would take away the importance of the most unique sporting event in the world, erasing a centuries-old tradition. I hope, as a sportsman, that FIFA wants to abandon this wrong project. The possible two-year commitment, added to the calendar proposed by FIFA which would group the stops for the national teams in only two dates, would have very negative consequences on the psychophysical health of the players and on the future of the domestic leagues, which would suffer a tremendous impact at a time already very delicate."
Maldini continued:
"Athletes, federations and clubs are aware that the possible benefits would be very few compared to the many risks that such a decision would bring to the world of football."