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NYON, Switzerland -- Tensions between FIFA and Europe's top clubs over the 2022 World Cup have been calmed by a meeting between Sepp Blatter and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. European Club Association chairman Rummenigge said on Tuesday he had positive talks in recent days with FIFA president Blatter about payments to clubs linked to the tournament in Qatar. FIFA and the ECA traded barbs last week after the governing body recommended playing the tournament in November-December. FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke dismissed Rummenigge's request for compensation, and ruled out apologizing for disrupting the traditional European club season. Rummenigge told The Associated Press "I have a different opinion" of the apparent conflict after meeting Blatter since Valcke spoke in Doha. FIFA and the 214-member ECA aim to renew an accord which expired after paying clubs worldwide $70 million from 2014 World Cup revenues in return for releasing players to the tournament. Bayern Munich, chaired by Rummenigge, received $1,734,367 from FIFA to lead almost 400 clubs which got a share of the money, paid as a daily rate of $2,800 for as long as a player was on national team duty. That overall amount should rise significantly for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. "I am still positive and optimistic that there is the possibility to find a serious and fair solution," Rummenigge said after an ECA board meeting. The ECA has a similar working agreement with UEFA which guarantees clubs a 150 million euro ($168 million) share of 2016 European Championship revenues.
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