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Gill warns Fifa over cash row

Pa
Thursday 07 October 2004 00:00 BST
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David Gill, Manchester United's chief executive, has warned Fifa that the current policy of clubs releasing players for internationals without compensation cannot continue.

Sepp Blatter, the president of football's world governing body, remains opposed to paying clubs to release their players and has cut off all contact with the G14 group of clubs who have lodged a formal complaint to the Swiss competition authorities.

"As a Premier League club we want a successful England team, and the competitions they play in increase football's popularity around the world," Gill said. "We are not saying you should not have championships but the fact the governing bodies can generate vast amounts of money in sponsorship and TV revenue through an asset they get for free is something that just cannot continue.

"There has to be scope for Fifa and Uefa [the European governing body] to slice some of the profits they make from major tournaments to repay the clubs who provide the assets which provide the income."

He added: "We are not looking for a pound-for-pound reimbursement. Everyone recognises the English FA has more money than the Azerbaijan FA. That is why the funds should come out of a central pot."

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