BRUSSELS, April 28 (Reuters) - Europe's football authorities will
take on the G14, representing 18 of the world's most powerful clubs,
for the first time in public on Wednesday, kicking-off two weeks that
could change the face of the game. European Union lawmakers have
invited UEFA, European football's governing body and the G14, which
represents the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United, to a
public hearing as the fight for control of the beautiful game steps
up a gear. Just days later, Jose Luis Arnaut, the man leading a
review in to how the game is run across the European Union is
expected to deliver his final report. His findings will then be
discussed by EU politicians in June. As if that was not enough for
those within the game to digest, a Belgian court will finally rule in
a landmark case taken against world soccer's governing body FIFA by
Belgian first division club, Charleroi - backed by G14- on May 15.
UEFA will be represented at the European Parliament on Wednesday by
chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson with G14's general manager
Thomas Kurth putting his organisation's views across. It is the
first time the G14 has been invited to sit alongside those running
the game. FIFA, the world's governing body, has refused to negotiate
with the G14 with its president Sepp Blatter threatening to go to
'war' with them. But Arnaut, who will also be attending the hearing,
last month told football's authorities that they must talk to the G14
for the sake of the game's future.
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