Wenger warns FIFA

Arsene Wenger has warned FIFA that they risk devaluing football if they persist with tournaments such as the Club World Championship and the Confederations Cup.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is said to be considering the reintroduction of the tournament that Manchester United dropped out of the FA Cup to take part in four years ago.

Wenger, whose side face Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg tomorrow when they seek to overturn a one goal deficit, is also unhappy with the Confederations Cup.

Arsenal's French players took part in it last summer, while France will also face Brazil in a one-off FIFA exhibition game just two days before the FA Cup Final in May.

That could seriously affect Arsenal, Chelsea or United if they reach the final, and, for Wenger, it is yet another example of FIFA meddling with the fixtures schedule for all the wrong reasons.

"This game will be a problem for the FA Cup Final but also for other countries as well," he warned. "I don't say it's disrespectful to clubs but I feel it's like tennis when you have too many competitions without any worry of quality."

Asked if Arsenal might consider taking part in the Club World Championship in July 2005 if they were invited along with teams from all the other continents, Wenger was non-committal.

"The only interest is financial, it's not sport. The best players all play in Europe and the Club World Championship has less interest than the Champions League," he said.