Olympic leaders target FIFA over proposed biennial World Cup plan in meeting interrupted by pro-Tibet activists

Before the heated words inside the online meeting that FIFA chief Gianni Infantino attended, several activists from the Students for a Free Tibet group tried to get into the IOC headquarters. FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s plan to stage men’s and women’s World Cups every two years instead of four was previously criticised by the IOC which put it on the agenda for the annual “Olympic Summit” debate of influential sports bodies. “The attendees voiced serious concerns over proposals from FIFA for a biennial World Cup and the impact on the worldwide sport event calendar,” the International Olympic Committee said in a statement. Bach chaired the meeting Saturday to discuss “subjects of significance for the future of the Olympic movement.” It came two days after Bach said the IOC had no direct consultation with FIFA since the biennial World Cup proposal was formally announced three months ago. The IOC has previously said doubling the number of World Cups would affect the calendar of “tennis, cycling, golf, gymnastics, swimming, athletics, Formula One and many others.” It would also potentially put a men’s 2028 World Cup, likely earning FIFA billions of dollars in commercial income, almost directly against the Los Angeles Olympics which open 21 July, 2028.