Tuesday 3 March 2015 22:48, UK
Europe's top clubs will hold further talks with FIFA to discuss the impact of a proposed 2022 World Cup switch to November and December in Qatar.
The European Club Association (ECA) executive board met at its headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, on Tuesday morning and, according to Sky sources, expressed its willingness to agree a ‘serious and fair solution’.
A FIFA Task Force made the controversial recommendation last week, and the proposal is expected to be formally approved by FIFA's executive committee by 20 March.
The ECA has complained about the considerable disruption to its club's domestic calendar, and must reach a new 'compensation' agreement with FIFA for the release of players for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Russia and Qatar.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said that he would prefer the World Cup final to take place no later than 18 December, 2022.
ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who leads the organisation's board, said: "European clubs and leagues cannot be expected to bear the costs for such rescheduling. We expect the clubs to be compensated for the damage that a final decision would cause."
Sky Sports News HQ understands that world football's governing body is prepared to pay in excess of £100m, compared to the previous deal worth around £45m, but a formal agreement might not be signed and announced before FIFA's presidential election in May.
The ECA has 214 members from 53 associations, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Celtic and Rangers.
According to figures published in January, nearly 400 clubs from around the world received a share of £45.5m ($70m) from FIFA after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil 'in order to recognise the important part they play in the success of the tournament.’
The payments were distributed, via national associations, to the clubs of the 736 players who participated in the final competition.
Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City each received more than £650,000 ($1m).
Twenty-eight other English clubs received smaller payments, including Doncaster Rovers and Ipswich Town, for players who were present at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, or who had a competing player registered with them up to two years before the final tournament.
Two Welsh clubs received payments, Swansea City and Cardiff City, and four Scottish sides, Celtic, Hibernian, Kilmarnock and Hearts, received a share of the FIFA money.
Bayern Munich received the single biggest payment of around £1.1m ($1.7m).
Jerome Valcke, FIFA general secretary, said last week that no compensation would be offered to European clubs in addition to any new agreement with the ECA.
Richard Scudamore, Premier League chief executive, said last week: "In all of the FIFA taskforce meetings, I consistently told FIFA that the Premier League wants consideration, not compensation."
