Michael Verschueren and Bart Verhaeghe want FIFA changes

European Football Clubs Congress in Brussels and Zurich

Belgium’s representatives Michael Verschueren and Bart Verhaeghe want changes at FIFA, including a new president and a new way of working, while clubs seek to commercialize their brand within a viable international match schedule. Voetbalkrant.com reported that the two figures outlined their positions following the recent European Football Clubs congress, where the role of FIFA president Gianni Infantino emerged as a central point of contention.

Bart Verhaeghe on Player Compensation and FIFA Dominance

Club Brugge president Bart Verhaeghe criticized the current financial model surrounding international tournaments, pointing to the case of defender Joel Ordoñez. Ordoñez suffered an injury while playing for Ecuador at the World Cup, leaving Club Brugge to cover his salary without any financial compensation from world football’s governing body. The injury had severe financial implications for the Belgian club when Crystal Palace subsequently backed out of a reported €30 million transfer deal because the defender required months of rehabilitation. “Zonder onze spelers heeft FIFA geen product om te verkopen, hé. Terwijl het wel de clubs zijn die de spelers betalen. Niet de wereldvoetbalbond,” Verhaeghe stated to Het Laatste Nieuws, emphasizing that clubs fund the players that drive FIFA’s revenue.

Michael Verschueren on Commercialization and Tournament Formats

Verschueren argued that major European teams operate as global brands with every right to maximize their commercial value. “De topclubs willen hun merk maximaal commercialiseren,” Verschueren said, noting that the expanded Club World Cup represents a logical avenue for that expansion, provided it fits within a sustainable match calendar.

FIFA Presidential Election Timeline and Candidate Status

Gianni Infantino remains the sole declared candidate to succeed himself as FIFA president ahead of the upcoming election cycle. Prospective challengers have until November 18 to submit their candidacies. The official FIFA presidential elections are scheduled to take place on March 18 in Rabat, Morocco, where member associations will vote on the leadership for the next term.