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By Darren Ennis
BRUSSELS, Oct 5 (Reuters) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter is ready to welcome G14, which represents 18 of Europe's top clubs, into soccer's "family" after its expansion but only if it drops its court actions against the sport's world governing body.
Last month, the group, which includes powerful clubs such as Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan, said it would expand to around 50 by the end of the year in a move it hoped would help to resolve differences with soccer's governing bodies.
"This matter is now in the hands of UEFA but the enlargement is the correct move," Blatter told a group of reporters on a conference call on Friday.
Until now, both FIFA and European governing body UEFA have failed to recognise or engage with the G14, saying the lobby group was elitist and did not represent the majority of clubs in Europe.
The two sides are at odds over issues such as the release of players for international duty and the international calendar which has resulted in at least two court cases, one of which is pending at the European Court of Justice -- Europe's top court.
"If the enlargement is correct and the G14 behaves as a member of a family should behave, then of course we are ready to welcome them into the football family. But only if they drop their court cases against us," Blatter said.
"If they want to take a new approach, then they must take the next step and drop these cases against us."
UEFA sources have indicated that if negotiations went to plan, UEFA would consider offering the expanded version of G14 the job of running the organisation's influential club forum which UEFA uses to measure the views of its clubs.
However, its president Michel Platini who is seeking to find a solution to the row, has so far remained cool towards the G14's expansion, indicating his solidarity with Blatter's view that their opponents must end their legal action before real talks can begin.
