FIFA, world soccer's ruling body, backed down in
their bitter row with UEFA today, agreeing to withdraw proposals they made to the European Union over new transfer regulations.
After a summit meeting with UEFA, European soccer's governing body, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the paper he had submitted to the EU last week was "invalid".
He said FIFA would re-start negotiations with the EU jointly with UEFA who had been incensed by FIFA's unilateral decision to "go it alone".
UEFA pulled out of the Task Force earlier this week following FIFA's unilateral proposals.
The European Commission, the administrative body of the EU, want players to have the same freedom of movement within the 15 EU countries as other workers, and warned soccer officials it might dismantle the whole transfer regime.
Without consulting UEFA, FIFA submitted proposals which would have enabled players to end their contracts if they disagreed with a coach's tactics, gave three months' notice or the club was relegated.
Reuters