It's 'club vs country' in football again

New Delhi: Top European clubs are heading for a collision course with FIFA and other stakeholders in international football.

In a move that is bound to renew the long-running 'club vs country' debate in football, the European Club Association (ECA) - an independent body which directly represents the clubs at a European level - has called for a drastic reduction in the number of international fixtures held every year.

The current calendar provides for 12 internationals. FIFA wants to increase that to an unreasonable 17, while the clubs - already incensed - want to bring it down to just six.

The clubs have also asked for a raise in the compensation paid to them by FIFA and UEFA for releasing players to compete in international competitions. On the face of it, that seems to be a fair demand. After all, it is the clubs who own the players, pay their wages, train them for the best part of the year and suffer the most should their 'assets' get an injury.

However, on the flipside, clubs are well aware of the perils of bringing top international stars on their rolls. In fact, one might argue that the bigger teams deliberately want players good enough to represent their countries at the highest level, to improve quality. So, like any other business, they must accept the risks that come with their constant quest for success.

It is difficult to believe that international football has no place any more. Glory at the club level might have taken precedence for many players and fans alike, but there is still a certain prestige attached to wearing the national shirt that many footballers yearn for. The World Cup is perhaps the most-viewed sports event worldwide, and the biggest honour a player can hope for in his career. After all, isn't it held against Lionel Messi that he isn't still as great as a Pele or Diego Maradona, mainly because he is yet to win the biggest prize of them all and lead his national team to glory?

On another level, internationals are a lifeline for smaller national associations, for whom matches against the big guns can provide vital financial gains, in addition to valuable experience for their players. In countries where club football isn't as strong, international football can be used to promote the game. Even the 'meaningless friendlies' provide a platform to mould future stars, apart from offering national coaches a rare chance to try out strategies before the matches that count.

Although a final resolution is unlikely to be ever reached, it is essential for the players' sake that a compromise is worked out. A top-level player, who appears in almost every game for club and country, can play 70-odd games in a season that also includes a major international tournament. Such a strain can only have an adverse affect on their quality and fitness, despite the advances of modern science. It is no wonder, then, that players like Jamie Carragher and Ryan Giggs chose to retire early from international football, in order to prolong their careers.

To start with, the timing of the internationals definitely needs to be reviewed. Holding matches at the start of a domestic season, in August, is hardly beneficial, with the players still away from full fitness at the time. Summer friendlies - which take place after a season is over - are similarly futile. Also, the group stages of the Euros and World Cups can also be trimmed - 16 teams will compete in the Euros next year, with the number set to rise to 24 from Euro 2016 onwards - A change in the format will also reduce the number of one-sided games, bringing the added advantage of making the tournament more competitive and exciting.

As for the tussle over the players, careful management through close collaboration between the domestic league and the national set-up can help players give their best in the games that matter. For instance, if a club expects a recuperating player to be rested ahead of a cup final, then they too must return the favour when an important international qualifier is around the corner.

In fact, perhaps the final decision should come down to the player alone, for if a player isn't fully committed to playing for his country, then there may be no point in picking him in the first place!

The ECA plans to meet FIFA soon, to work out a suitable arrangement to balance both interests. Meanwhile, with the existing agreement over internationals running out in 2014, the debate is just getting started!