Football clubs are to be compensated for letting their players appear in the final stages of the European Championships and World Cup.

A MOMENTOUS peace deal was yesterday agreed between FIFA, UEFA and the European clubs that will lead to the G14 organisation disbanding and clubs being paid for their players appearing in the World Cup or European Championships.

A momentous peace deal has been agreed between FIFA, UEFA and the European clubs that will lead to the G14 organisation disbanding and clubs being paid for their players appearing in the World Cup or European Championships.

G14, the group of elite European clubs, is to be disbanded and the organisation will withdraw their court claims against FIFA in what has been hailed as “an historic day for football”.

Michel Platini is understood to have dropped plans for domestic cup winners to qualify for the Champions League in a compromise which is set to see three Premier League teams handed automatic spots in the competition.

UEFA president Michel Platini’s controversial plan for cup winners to qualify for the Champions League has been rejected.

Three teams from the Premier League are set to qualify automatically for the Champions League after UEFA agreed to drop proposals for domestic cup winners to qualify for the tournament.

CHELSEA would reject an invitation to join an expanded G14 group representing some of Europe’s top clubs, the Premier League side’s chief executive Peter Kenyon said yesterday.

Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has left the club with immediate effect.

Europe's top clubs are preparing to fight UEFA president Michel Platini's proposals for Champions League play-offs.

Major reforms of football have moved a step closer after European sports ministers agreed to a raft of proposals including controls on how much clubs can pay for players’ wages and transfers.

BAYERN MUNICH chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has accused Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich of stifling the competitiveness of European football.

FOOTBALL and politics are so inextricably linked in Italy that it was no surprise when Silvio Berlusconi fainted while delivering a speech on Sunday and had to be whisked off to hospital for a check-up.

FIFA have joined forces with FIFPro, the International Federation of Professional Footballers, in a move which will give the players an official voice in decision-making.

Arsene Wenger would have no problem with Chelsea being granted membership of the G14 group of elite European clubs.

INTERNATIONAL football will be destroyed if Belgian club Charleroi win a landmark court case, says European football’s governing body UEFA.

UEFA tonight accused the G14 clubs of being hell-bent on “the destruction” of international football.

The G14 group of elite European clubs hopes the appointment of Arsenal’s David Dein as its new chairman will allow it to settle its differences with FIFA and UEFA in an “amicable” manner.

Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein claims Lord Stevens’ corruption inquiry is a vital necessity to maintain the Premiership’s position as the richest and most popular league in the world.

ARSENAL vice-chairman David Dein expects an end to the legal disputes between Europe’s clubs and soccer’s governing bodies during his tenure as chairman of the G14 pressure group of clubs.

BIG-SPENDING clubs could face curbs on how much they pay for players’ wages and transfers under proposals being considered by the game’s leaders and European sports ministers.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez wants FIFA to pay compensation for Djibril Cisse’s injury while on World Cup duty with France, warning football’s governing body that coaches could start withholding their players.

A review of European football will back efforts to limit the number of foreign players in English football when it is published tomorrow.

UEFA’s chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson has claimed the G14 group of top Europe clubs still harbour ambitions of breaking away from the Champions League.

UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson insists European football’s governing body will not be forced into talks with the G14, accusing the controversial group of “creating the conditions for a war”.

International friendlies could be on the G14 hit-list as they look to persuade UEFA to expand the Champions League.

Manchester United chief executive David Gill has denied Europe’s richest clubs want to break away and form their own version of the Champions League.

IT MAY not stir the blood quite like a 25 yard volley to the roof of the net, a save in a penalty shoot-out or a last minute winner that lifts a cup or staves off relegation, but anyone who has ever fallen under football’s spell should sit up and pay attention to a compensation case which is currently before the Belgian courts.

UEFA today warned clubs could be thrown out of their domestic leagues if they choose to form a rival tournament.

CHELSEA could make a renewed attempt to join the powerful G14 group of Europe’s biggest clubs after being knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona.

UEFA have vowed that no stone will be left unturned in their planned clean-up of European football.

THE ongoing cold war between football’s world governing body and Europe’s top clubs saw no hint of a thaw in the desert heat yesterday as leading representatives from both sides discussed their differences in a public arena.

CHELSEA chief executive Peter Kenyon wants football’s governing bodies to meet with clubs and thrash out a solution to the perennial club versus country debate.

NOT A DAY goes by when money is not at the heart of a football story on these sports pages.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has called for international friendlies to be scrapped and for changes to the World Cup and European Championships.

Manchester United chief executive David Gill is confident clubs will eventually strike a deal with the soccer authorities over compensation for international players.

ARSENAL vice-chairman David Dein has been holding talks in Seville about a possible move for Brazilian forward Julio Baptista as the Gunners look to strengthen their strike force.

With UEFA on the brink of making a decision on Liverpool’s chances of defending the European Cup, cross-city rivals Everton have made it clear they would object to missing out financially from whatever decision is made.

A UEFA executive committee member believes it is too late to change the rules to accommodate holders Liverpool into next season’s Champions League.

PRESSURE increased on UEFA yesterday to include Liverpool in the Champions League next season after G14, the grouping of elite European clubs, called for the Reds to be allowed to defend their trophy.

An independent disciplinary commission is expected to be appointed by the Premier League within the next few days to deal with Chelsea’s alleged 'tapping up' of Ashley Cole.

THE European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) continued their development in Dublin yesterday by drafting a constitution which will now be put before each member association, including the Eircom League.