The Elite G14

"If Fifa want to light a fire then so be it, but it will be a very hot one. I hope this idea doesn't go any further."

Dein said: "I appeal to FIFA for a period of calm. We are currently on the road to resolving a lot of the problems in the game, so there is no need to cause any more headaches."

Fifa boss Sepp Blatter has proposed that European clubs must field a minimum of six home players. Blatter believes that this proposed rule would protect the game at national level and bring clubs closer to the fans.

However, many within the sport, including European football's governing body Uefa, think the proposal is a breach of European law and rules of a free labour market in the European Union

G14, which represents 18 of Europe's richest clubs, is at odds with the world governing body over a number of issues.

It is also involved in two court cases related to the release of international players and compensation should they get injured.

Yesterday the G14 received a talk from Newcastle's lawyer, Graham Shear, over the impact of the injury to Michael Owen at the World Cup. The clubs are set to propose an insurance mechanism that will be able to compensate clubs whose players are injured while on international duty.

There is another proposal put forward by the Fifa president Sepp Blatter, for a summer football season from February to November. However, the G14 yesterday refused to rule out this extraordinary proposal.

Dein has discussed the matter with Blatter, whose idea has gained currency with the clubs, who believe it is time to end the conflict with national associations over international football.

"If it is for the good of the game to have summer football - we have to be convinced," said David Dein, vice-chairman of Arsenal and chairman of the elite G14. This has got to be discussed with the clubs, television, coaches and players. Someone has to ask the players; this is a work in progress."

"I want as an Englishman to see England win the World Cup within my lifetime and every club director wants his team to do well. Fifa wants the strongest national teams in Fifa competitions and Uefa in the European Championship. But everybody's got to give blood."

Another summit has since been held at which Milan's Umberto Gandini and the Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, was present. Fifa sources say the idea is driven by concerns over players' fitness.

"The idea of organising the calendar differently is for the protection of the players," said a Fifa source, having 38 matches in the league, 15 in one cup, 10 in another and six international games is unworkable."

Before the policy is adopted, the elite clubs are pushing for the African Nations Cup, a controversial competition for clubs due to its two-year cycle, to be moved. The G14 wants one of the competitions to coincide with the European Championships so only one tournament every four years is held during the European club season.