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PARIS. — The European Club Association (ECA) insisted on Tuesday that extending the World Cup soccer finals from 32 to 40 teams would put too much burden on clubs and inflict physical overload on players.

“We are satisfied with the balance of interest and any change would need very careful review,” insisted ECA vice-president Umberto Gandini.

The AC Milan director was speaking at the end of a two-day working session in Paris with a range of subjects on the club lobby group’s agenda, chiefly aimed at combating FIFA reforms to the World Cup.

The ECA said “the burden on players has become too much” and described the new proposal by FIFA presidential candidate Gianni Infantino as leading to physical overload. — AFP.