European Cup Paris Accord:Speculation that the future of the European Cup is being compromised by vested interests in England and France appears a tad premature. The current agreement, known as the Paris Accord, runs out at the end of this season and is being renegotiated.

There are certainly issues in both of the aforementioned countries that need to be resolved before agreement is reached on the future of the Heineken European Cup. The speculation has been given an added impetus because an ERC meeting due to take place yesterday was postponed to January 10th.

ERC chief executive Derek McGrath explained: "We are aware of what's been said in the media. Meetings to renegotiate the accord began last January and to date we have had about eight, one every four to six weeks. There is unanimous support for the competition to go ahead.

"The reason that this meeting was postponed was because of a request from England. The clubs and the union wanted to discuss other matters before continuing with the European issue. They received support in their bid for postponement from the French, and the suitable quorum having been reached, the meeting was postponed.

"There is no one saying that they don't want to go ahead; in fact everyone wants it to continue."

The threat to the tournament is being attributed to a familiar source: Serge Blanco, president of the French League, whose allegiance to domestic rugby puts him firmly on the side of the Top 14 when conflict arises. There are several issues under scrutiny: the fixture schedule, the wishes of the French television broadcaster Canal Plus, and a desire for a bigger slice of the financial pie.

France will host next year's World Cup, and so their 2007-2008 schedule will have to be condensed, cramming the World Cup, European Cup and Top 14 into nine-and-a-half months. The sheer number of matches is a problem and some French interests advocate withdrawal from the European competition.

Despite a reported €12.5 million being paid to the clubs by the French Federation (FFR) as compensation for disruption to the domestic season, the clubs are still unhappy at having to squeeze in six weeks of European action as well as the 28 Top 14 weeks - a schedule that ensures the championship runs into June and possibly July.

Compounding the issue is the displeasure of Canal Plus at squad-rotation policies - whereby teams rest key players - that impinge upon some of the showpiece matches. The station will be tempted to pay less for rights. Domestic television revenue and sponsorship are the chief money-spinners for French clubs; the value of the European Cup is largely a matter of prestige.

McGrath confirmed none of these issues had been raised at ERC level by the French interests and said he therefore felt there was no issue to debate.

The English situation centres on a domestic spat between Premier Rugby and the English RFU.

Premier Rugby, which represents the top-flight clubs, wants the clubs to become direct stakeholders in the European Cup, while the English RFU opposes that stance. Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty admitted: "Clubs are supporting our position that we need to become stakeholders."

The English RFU refuse to negotiate a new deal until the clubs agree a new arrangement over the management of elite players, and this has led to an impasse.

McCafferty continued: "The RFU is linking this to other issues and we're saying they shouldn't be doing that - this should be a self-standing issue. The Heineken Cup is a priority tournament and we've got to get a formula with which everyone is in agreement."

It seems the in-house dialogue in France and England will have to continue in the hope of finding mutually acceptable solutions, but McGrath is optimistic a new Paris Accord can be brokered and the European Cup will remain the showpiece of Northern Hemisphere rugby.

Ticket sales for the 2007 European Cup final at Twickenham, which takes place on Sunday, May 20th, have exceeded 30,000.

ERC confirmed the climax to the 12th staging of European rugby's premier tournament will have a 2.30pm kick-off at the revamped stadium in London.

It will be the fourth European Cup final played on a Sunday - the previous occasions were Cardiff 1996, Twickenham 2004 and Murrayfield 2005.

The record attendance for a final is the 74,600 at the 2002 game between Leicester Tigers and Munster at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Twickenham holds 82,000.

• For information on purchasing tickets, log on to ercrugby.com/london07.

• Tickets are available at £35, £50, £60 from www.ticketmaster.co.uk or 08703330369 or 00441613853238. A booking fee applies.