The European Club Association (ECA) was founded in 2008 as a replacement for the hated G14 Group, which dissolved in its favour. It has a membership of 191 European clubs. But the majority of the ECA Board are from the G14 Group.
So it should come as no surprise to hear Board member Karl-Heinz Rumenigge (formerly of G14) today call for a reduction in the number of international games to six a year, including friendlies. This is the guy who also once called for games to be split into four quarters so "investors can get a better return on their money" by allowing for more advertising time. No surprise there then.
International games provide opportunities for players to test themselves against the best in the world and help prevent the game sinking into a narrow-minded nationalist bog. They help spread the game further around the world, which can only be a good thing.
If the likes of Herr Rumenigge have their way we might as well go back to playing in Stanley Park with jumpers for goal posts.
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