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Last Updated: Friday, 31 March 2006, 18:08 GMT 19:08 UK
Olsson stands firm on G14 talks
Uefa chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson
Olsson believes the G14 group has a negative impact on football
Uefa chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson says his organisation will not be forced to talk to the G14 group.

Olsson feels the influence of G14 - which represents 18 of the world's richest and most powerful clubs - is having a negative impact on the game.

He told BBC News 24's Extratime: "We don't have to talk to the G14 but we will talk to the clubs.

"When we talk to the individual clubs their views are not as militant as when they come from the G14 office."

G14 creates the conditions for a war rather than trying to find agreements
Uefa chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson

The G14 group includes Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Uefa has already threatened clubs with expulsion from their domestic leagues if they try to form a rival tournament - which the G14 group deny they are planning.

Olsson added: "There's no room for accommodation - we are throwing lots of [olive] branches to the clubs but not to the G14.

"G14 creates the conditions for a war rather than trying to find agreements."

"Most of the clubs are saying 'we don't want to break away' but then they change their statutes to say that now we should be able to organise a competition.

"Now they have to show their real cards."

Olsson also believes G14 should be more generous with the revenue generated by the Champions League.

He said: "Our opinion is that the money generated from the final rounds should be distributed to those who are actually doing the grassroots work where the big clubs are benefiting - and the money is not generated by the big clubs.

"They want the entire pie. If Uefa hadn't been strong and hadn't acted there would be no distribution, not even to the top professional clubs in the smaller countries.

"We are actually the only guarantee for a proper distribution model.

"If you take the club competitions like the Champions League, more than 80% of the money goes to the 32 participating teams in the final rounds. It is not too much to say that 20% should go elsewhere."




SEE ALSO
G14 infuriated by Uefa comments
28 Mar 06 |  Europe
Uefa issues threat to big clubs
23 Mar 06 |  Football


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