Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal has elected to skip a conference call of international managers arranged by FIFA to discuss plans to change the World Cup to every two years.
That’s according to NOS and Voetbal International, who say the KNVB ‘passed’ on the opportunity to have their manager present.
They explain that FIFA have planned two video conferences this week on Tuesday and Thursday to discuss the plans to make the World Cup every two years.
The idea is being spearheaded by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is the FIFA Chief of Global Football Development and has been speaking about the plans publicly for months.
Part of his efforts has seen him meeting with various footballing bodies and representatives to try and curry favour for the plans, which have been met with an extremely mixed reaction.
He’s already stated that getting national coaches on board is ‘essential’ according to VI but not every association ‘appears to be warm’ to the conferences planned for this week.
The Netherlands have already declined an invitation for Van Gaal, while Germany’s Hansi Flick will also not be attending.
“We let the invitation pass us by,” said a spokesperson for the KNVB to NOS.
“The KNVB believes that the national associations should first be well informed about these ideas.”
