Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 7y

DFB president Reinhard Grindel: It's time to scrap Confederations Cup

German FA (DFB) president Reinhard Grindel has called for the Confederations Cup to be scrapped, telling German newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt he believes the competition has "outlived itself."

Germany will be among eight nations participating in the 2017 tournament in Russia next June, and both coach Joachim Low and general manager Oliver Bierhoff have hinted that they will not take their best players.

Grindel said: "It would be a good signal for the top clubs in Europe, who justly warn against a heavy workload for their players, to say: 'We eschew one competition.'"

The DFB president added: "There is no need for it any more."

At the weekend, Bierhoff criticised FIFA's insufficient funding of the tournament, and said Germany would have to "pay extra as the association even if we win."

According to tournament regulations, FIFA covers hotel and travelling costs for a total party of 40 people for every participating country, with Germany's total party adding up to 60.

Grindel backed Bierhoff and said: "We will make it clear next month during a visit to the FIFA general secretary [Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura] that we expect FIFA to cover costs for our entire delegation."

It has yet to be decided where and whether the 2021 Confederations Cup will be held.

Qatar, the 2022 World Cup hosts, have been stripped of the tournament because FIFA wants it to be played during the traditional dates in June and July, with former FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke saying it will be played "in an Asian country."

^ Back to Top ^