GENEVA: Europe's top clubs warned FIFA Tuesday they are running out of patience with how it runs world football. Leaders of the European Club Association demand a greater voice in decision-making from football's governing body because their members and players represent the “heart of the game.” “I wouldn't say we are at war because the clubs are very patient, but we have a limit,” Barcelona president Sandro Rosell said after a meeting of the 197-member umbrella group. “What we are asking is rational, logical and fair.” The clubs criticized FIFA for managing the game without proper consultation — highlighting the confusion over a possible winter switch for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Monday, FIFA president Sepp Blatter reversed his previous public pronouncements and said it was “settled” to play the tournament in summer. Manchester United chief executive David Gill, an ECA board member, said Europe's clubs and leagues agreed the debate “hasn't been dealt with correctly.” “For it to happen in that way was somewhat surprising,” Gill said. The Qatar debate unsettled the ECA which was founded three years ago to give clubs stronger ties with FIFA and European authority UEFA. It replaced the elite G14 group of clubs which had threatened to form a breakaway Europe-wide league. However, ECA members were surprised at a winter World Cup proposal which would take their best players away for several weeks in the middle of the European league program, and affect scheduling over three seasons. AC Milan director Umberto Gandini called on FIFA to be more democratic. “If there are going to be serious discussions in the future then nothing can happen without European clubs,” said Gandini, the ECA vice chairman. “The heart of the game is the European game.” Gandini said FIFA also upset clubs with its management of the international calendar, which sets national team fixture dates four years in advance. Clubs believe their players are left tired and injured because FIFA loads the schedule with too many international matches — and added eight dates in the 2011-2014 calendar without telling them. Gandini insisted Wednesday's slot for international friendlies was not popular with coaches of national or club teams. “It's just a nonsense,” the Italian official said. The club vs country tension is likely to affect callups for the 2012 London Olympics tournament next year, once the ECA gets the talks it is seeking with FIFA. Clubs will propose that players are limited to playing one major tournament each year. The Olympics kick off less than one month after the July 1 final at the 2012 European Championship being played in Poland and Ukraine. “A players who is in the Euro squad shouldn't be in the Olympic squad,” Gill said. “I think common sense will prevail.” Guardiola extends contract Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola has agreed to stay with the Spanish champions until June 2012, the club said Tuesday. “The signing of the contract will take place in the next few days,” the club said in a statement posted on its website. The 40-year-old, who spent most of his playing career at Barcelona, coached Barcelona's B team before taking control of the first-team squad in June 2008 from Dutchman Frank Rijkaard. The former Spanish international playmaker won seven trophies in his first two seasons at the Camp Nou. He had a remarkable debut season winning the Champions League, league title and Spanish Cup.
