Richard Masters furiously hits out at FIFA for ‘failing to consult’ the Premier League over the Club World Cup – and demands a ‘seat at the table’ amid fears over football’s crowded calendar

Premier League chief Richard Masters has hit out at FIFA, accusing them of failing to consult the competition over the Club World Cup.

Champions Manchester City and Chelsea, who eventually won the extended tournament, headed to the US this summer at the end of the regular season.

Some have complained about the impact of the additional matches on player welfare, and have raised concerns over the squeeze it added to an already-congested calendar.

And Masters is perplexed that FIFA launched the new 32-team version, which ran from June 13 to July 14, without even speaking to the Premier League.

He claimed that while UEFA included the top-flight when they planned Champions League reforms, the same could not be said of the global body.

‘You could feel the Premier League’s and the European leagues’ voices in the final solutions that were put together,’ he told reporters at a new-season briefing. 

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Richard Masters claims FIFA failed to consult the Premier League over the Club World Cup

The tournament, won by Chelsea this summer, added to football’s already crowded calendar

‘That’s not been the case with the Club World Cup. The leagues and the players have not been consulted at all on the timing and scheduling of the competition and I think whatever iteration of it may come next, we do need to be consulted on that. 

‘Obviously, it does have an impact on the scheduling of the Premier League season, that much is clear. We’re asking for a seat at the table, proper discussion for the leagues.’

Masters also questioned why FIFA had moved deeper into club football.

‘I don’t ever want there to be a situation where players are ending up or manage having to make up choices about which competitions people play in because I think that would be the wrong direction to take the game,’ he said.

‘Obviously FIFA was put on earth really to regulate the global game and to run international football and the Club World Cup is a move into club football.’

Meanwhile, Masters dismissed the notion of taking a Premier League match to the US. The top-flight now has 11 of its sides owned by Americans and the prospect of switching a game across the Atlantic is one which refuses to disappear. However, Masters was forthright on the situation. 

‘As you know, I’m very clear about it,’ he said. ‘The Premier League doesn’t have plans to play matches abroad. We’re not discussing it around our table.

‘The overall objective of playing matches abroad is to grow that league internationally. And in the last 10 years, the Premier League has grown internationally. We’re now a genuinely global league. 

‘All of the data points suggest the Premier League is growing internationally without the need to play matches abroad.’

Masters demanded a ‘seat at the table’ from FIFA, fronted by president Gianni Infantino (above)

He remained tight-lipped on the Premier League’s ongoing legal battle with Manchester City

Masters was less forthcoming when asked by Daily Mail Sport if he would consider resigning should the league lose its battle with Manchester City over alleged breaches of financial rules. 

‘You’re asking me to speculate on the outcome of the case,’ he said. ‘I’m not going to do it. That’s all I can say.’