While UEFA is against the idea, veteran stars Franz Beckenbauer and Bobby Charlton are on opposite sides once again.

Blatter wants the World Cup played every two years plus a special tournament in 2004 to commemorate FIFA's centenary.

In effect, soccer's showcase would be on a two-year cycle beginning with the next World Cup in 2002 in Japan and South Korea. The 2002 tournament would be followed by the centennial event in 2004 and the 2006 World Cup, which is expected to be awarded to South Africa, England, Germany or Brazil. Blatter said the 2004 event would be smaller than the 32-team field last year in France -- probably 24 countries.

FIFA said the idea would be taken up by its strategic studies committee.Lennart Johansson, president of the European governing body UEFA, said the idea of a World Cup-type event in the same year as the 2004 European Championship istotally unacceptable.

It's a proposal that could force UEFA to reschedule its European Championship from 2004 onwards to avoid a clash. "UEFA is going to organize the European Championship in 2004 and it is the year of the 50th jubilee," said Johansson, who was defeated by Blatter in last June's FIFA presidential election. "The proposal has not been officially submitted to the FIFA executive committee and the confederations who would be strongly affected by it were certainly never informed or consulted," Johansson added.

Blatter's idea seems certain to spark another FIFA vs UEFA confrontation, and the real fallout from his announcement could be a major club-vs-country power struggle.

UEFA's decision to beef up its Champions Cup to head off the establishment of a breakaway European Super League has placed more emphasis on club soccer. Blatter is hitting back on behalf of the national teams by bringing the World Cup around more often. The proposal could also have an impact on the Olympics. FIFA and theInternational Olympic Committee are at odds over the format of the Olympic soccer tournament, which is currently staged on a largely under-23 basis.

For instance, the proposed 2004 soccer centennial could possibly wind up being held at virtually the same time as the 2004 Olympics in Athens. If the World Cup happens every two years, soccer might drop out of the Olympics altogether. FIFA is already under the threat of expulsion from the Olympics because of its opposition to the IOC's anti-doping sanctions. The impact of the change on Olympic soccer -- a minor event dwarfed by track and field, swimming and even gymnastics -- is expected to be discussed at a meeting tomorrow between Blatter and his IOC counterpart, Juan Antonio Samaranch.

Voices Of Dissent And Assent

Bobby Charlton, former England captain
My own personal feeling is that every four years is often enough because it's something to look forward to. You have to wait for it and it increases the whole value of it. I just hopeit's not based on finance. When it comes from Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president, you take it seriously because he won't have said it lightly.

Lorenzo Sanz, president of Real Madrid and head of the so-called G-14 group of wealthy clubs
Top players are already spending a lot of time in national competitions such as the World Cup and European and South American Championships. All we clubs want is for federations to pay us when we lend players to national teams, and that it not be obligatory to give them up for exhibition matches or minor tournaments.

Ger Stolk, Dutch FA spokesman
Our organisation is not a big fan of the idea. We are afraid it will damage the European Championships. We also think it would be very tough from a medical point of view. There are already complaints about the demands on players.

Michel D'Hooghe, chairman of FIFA's medical committee
It doesn't really make that much sense. Besides we will devalue our own prime product. In the end,it will result in adding more games to the calendar and this cannot be. The limit has already been reached. So i certainly don't look favorably upon this.

Franz Beckenbauer, former Germany captain
It's a good idea, certainly worth discussing. National teams have reduced their own worth through the impossible qualification method. That means an inflation of games against second and third-class opponents. And no one wants to see them. The fan wants to see top games, Germany against Brazil or Italy against France. And therefore the proposal from Blatter is above all positive.

Dino Zoff, former Italy captain
It would be fine with me. It seems like a good idea and one that should be looked into.

Guglielmo Petrosino, secretary general of Italian Federation
With the current turnover of players, holding the finals every four years could mean some star players are past their best by the time the event comes along.

Oliver Kahn, Bayern Munichgoalkeeper
Fundamentally, it's a good idea. Playing in World Cup finals every two years would not be a problem for me.

Marcelo Lippi, Juventus coach
Interesting proposal, but I want to hear more. Which events are we going to sacrifice? What's going to happen to the Olympics and the European Championships? It would only add more congestion to a calendar which is already very intense.