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Last Updated: Thursday, 17 January 2008, 19:34 GMT
Blatter wants Cup of Nations move
Sepp Blatter
Blatter believes that it is possible to move the Nations Cup to June
Fifa president Sepp Blatter has told the BBC that the timing of the Africa Cup of Nations must be changed.

Blatter said that by 2016, the biennial tournament must be held in June and July like other major tournaments.

Earlier this week, the Confederation of African Football (Caf) insisted that the competition will continue to kick off in January.

There have been frequent complaints from European clubs who lose key players to the tournament.

"This is a tradition, but one should have now the courage to go into the international calendar and see if it's not possible to deal with it," said Blatter.

"We put a target for 2016 that by that time the international calendar must be definitely in accordance with the interests of everybody."

606: DEBATE

Around 40 African players in the English Premier League will be in Ghana for the Nations Cup.

Caf has maintained that the June weather in much of Africa is not ideal for football.

There would also be the problem of a clash with the World Cup every four years, but Blatter suggested that the Nations Cup could be moved to odd years.

SEE ALSO
Africa Nations ready for kick-off
18 Jan 08 |  Africa Cup of Nations
Early start for 2010 Nations Cup
17 Jan 08 |  Africa Cup of Nations
No change to Nations Cup timing
15 Jan 08 |  Africa Cup of Nations
Clubs set for African Nations Cup
01 Jan 08 |  Africa Cup of Nations


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