England legend Terry Butcher says new 48-team format DILUTES image of the World Cup – LISTEN

Former England captain Terry Butcher has slammed FIFA’s decision to open up the World Cup to 48 teams, saying that football was 'unfortunately third on the list' in reasons behind the change.

The new format, which will see an initial stage of 16 groups of three teams followed by a knockout stage of the remaining 32, will begin from the 2016 tournament.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s announcement of the expansion on Monday was met by fierce opposition.

Campaign group New Fifa Now described it as ‘a money grab and power grab’, while some commented that the move could be the beginning of the end for international football.

Infantino was forced to defend the expansion, insisting it was ‘a football decision’ and ‘a historic one which marks the entrance of the World Cup into the 21st Century'.

But England’s ‘captain fantastic’ believes it will only harm the world famous tournament’s prestigious image.

Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, Butcher said: “I had to check the date, I thought it was April 1st!”

“It’s a political decision, not a football one.

“The first thing I thought was that it’s a cunning plan to get Scotland into the World Cup!

“We were playing in that era of the World Cup when you had groups of three, and it was horrible. I can’t see that being any better now.

“I think it does knock the image of the World Cup right down.

“It’s political change, as well as a huge financial one, and unfortunately football was third in the list.”