ZURICH (Reuters) – Football has reached the point where it must choose between becoming an elitist sport, dominated by a handful of rich clubs and leagues, or a universal one, according to former FIFA presidential advisor Jerome Champagne.

The Frenchman, who worked in various senior positions including advisor to president Sepp Blatter during 11 years at FIFA, said the sport needed a radical overhaul to help it stop the drain of talent to a few rich European clubs and to help it flourish worldwide.

ZURICH, March 21 (Reuters) – Soccer’s governing body FIFA needs to change the way its executive committee is selected to make it more representative, a former advisor to president Sepp Blatter said in an interview.

The 25 members are currently chosen by the continental confederations, with eight from Europe, four each from Africa and Asia, three each from CONCACAF and South America, one from Oceania, one female representative and the president.

ZURICH, March 21 (Reuters) – Football has reached the point where it must choose between becoming an elitist sport, dominated by a handful of rich clubs and leagues, or a universal one, according to former FIFA presidential advisor Jerome Champagne.

The Frenchman, who worked in various senior positions including advisor to president Sepp Blatter during 11 years at FIFA, said the sport needed a radical overhaul to help it stop the drain of talent to a few rich European clubs and to help it flourish worldwide.

NYON, Switzerland (Reuters) – Brazil’s matches against Italy and Russia are billed as friendlies but could be an acid test for midfielder Kaka’s hopes of playing in his fourth World Cup next year.

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, taking charge of his second match since being re-appointed in November, said on Wednesday that Kaka will be under the microscope as he continues to look for his ideal team for the Confederations Cup in June and next year’s World Cup.

NYON, Switzerland, March 20 (Reuters) – Brazil’s matches against Italy and Russia are billed as friendlies but could be an acid test for midfielder Kaka’s hopes of playing in his fourth World Cup next year.

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, taking charge of his second match since being re-appointed in November, said on Wednesday that Kaka will be under the microscope as he continues to look for his ideal team for the Confederations Cup in June and next year’s World Cup.

BERNE, March 20 (Reuters) – Hungary will be forced to play one of their most important matches for years in front of an empty stadium as they face Romania on Friday in one of several Eastern European World Cup qualifying derbies.

There is a potentially explosive meeting in Zagreb as Croatia and Serbia clash for the first time as independent countries while Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland and Ukraine come face to face in a game neither can afford to lose.

ZURICH, March 19 (Reuters) – CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb believes that the time has come to re-distribute places on the executive committee of world soccer’s governing body in which one third of the seats belong to Europe.

“The landscape has changed since 1904 when FIFA was founded in France,” Webb, who also heads FIFA’s anti-racism task force, told Reuters in an interview.

NYON, Switzerland (Reuters) – European champions Chelsea were left contemplating a long trip to Russia’s Rubin Kazan in their second leg following the Europa League quarter-final draw on Friday.

Lazio and Fenerbahce, who have both been in trouble with UEFA over fan behaviour, were paired in another tie while Tottenham Hotspur, the only one of the quarter-finalists to have won the trophy, face FC Basel with the first leg in London.

NYON, Switzerland, March 15 (Reuters) – European champions Chelsea were left contemplating a long trip to Russia’s Rubin Kazan in their second leg following the Europa League quarter-final draw on Friday.

Lazio and Fenerbahce, who have both been in trouble with UEFA over fan behaviour, were paired in another tie while Tottenham Hotspur, the only one of the quarter-finalists to have won the trophy, face FC Basel with the first leg in London.

NYON, Switzerland, March 15 (Reuters) – European champions Chelsea were left contemplating a long trip to Russia’s Rubin Kazan in their second leg following the Europa League quarter-final draw on Friday.

Lazio and Fenerbahce, who have both been in trouble with UEFA over fan behaviour, were paired in another tie while Tottenham Hotspur, the only one of the quarter-finalists to have won the trophy, face FC Basel with the first leg in London.