16 Jan 2008G14 set to expand

The G14 group of clubs in to be disbanded and replaced with a much larger independent organisation, football officials have confirmed.

G14 is actually comprised of 18 members - all major names in European football - and the pressure group has always said its number one goal is to give clubs a greater voice in the industry.

Endorsing the new organisation yesterday, Fifa and Uefa agreed to a number of concessions including the provision of a daily rate of compensation whenever players are called on by their national side in the European Championships and World Cup.

Pending legal action initiated by some of the clubs has now been dropped and Fifa president Sepp Blatter said all sides look set to benefit from the creation of the so-called European Club Association, which is expected to have over 100 members.

"Something special has happened," he said in a press conference. "The clubs, which are the basic cells of our game and fundamental to its thriving, are at last a part of the pyramidal organisation."

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