Transfer talks are put on hold

Crucial talks on the future of the transfer system have been put on hold by the European Commission until the row between FIFA and UEFA is settled. UEFA are due to meet with FIFA president Sepp Blatter tomorrow to resolve the deadlock which followed his sudden intervention in the negotiations.

Yesterday UEFA's executive committee renewed their threat to break away from the world game's governing body unless Blatter withdraws his support for plans to allow players to walk out on clubs with just three months' notice.

But, at the same time, senior officials from the Commission were briefing civil servants in England and across Europe in an effort to reassure them that football's warring parties will be given more time to settle their differences.

The Government immediately reaffirmed their backing for English football's stance and urged UEFA and FIFA to pull together and find a solution to the Commission's threat to outlaw the current system.

At their monthly meeting in central London today, the Premier League's 20 club chairmen were due to hear an update on the talks from secretary Mike Foster and Manchester United director Maurice Watkins, chairman of a technical committee examining the legal small print of any settlement.

They were expected to throw their weight behind UEFA and will urge FIFA to fall in line, a move that will have an impact on tomorrow's talks.

Work behind the scenes by Watkins, Foster and Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore led to backing from Prime Minister Tony Blair, who in turn enlisted the support of other European leaders like Germany's Gerhard Schroder.

The involvement of such political heavyweights persuaded the Commission to try and do a deal and prevented a sudden ruling which would have had a dramatic effect on the game.

As the world's richest league and through their involvement with the rest of Europe's top divisions, the Premier League have put considerable pressure on the Commission to agree to proposals which safeguard the basic principles of the system - long-term contracts and compensation for clubs to reward investment in youth.

The absence of Football Association chairman Geoff Thompson at yesterday's meeting in Switzerland is not thought to have had any long-term impact on the English game's place at the negotiating table.

The FA have left the detailed work on the system to the Premier League and although FA chief executive Adam Crozier attempted to cover the absence of Thompson, who was on holiday, by sending a letter to yesterday's UEFA executive committee meeting urging everyone to pull together "for the good of the game" their involvement has been limited.

Some senior European football officials have been surprised at that lack of involvement.

One, who asked not to be named because of the delicacy of the talks, said: "We were surprised there was no FA representative at yesterday's meeting and their involvement, aside from the statement made by the chief executive of the FA, has been minimal."

An FA spokesman said, however: "This is an issue that will affect everyone in football. He wrote the letter because he wanted the work of the FA and English football to be heard at the meet-ing."

Meanwhile, the FA have set aside two days for Arsene Wenger's appeal against a 12-match ban for pushing fourth official Paul Taylor after Arsenal's clash with Sunderland on the opening day of the season.

The Arsenal manager has been granted permission to call on his players to give evidence in his support and it is thought that the disciplinary panel will need extra time to hear all the submissions.

The hearing will take place on 1 and 2 February.

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