Carlo Ancelotti claims Real Madrid will REJECT controversial Fifa Club World Cup invite and ‘other clubs’ will follow
REAL MADRID are set to reject their invitation to the controversial Club World Cup.
Fifa have revamped the tournament to make it a 32-team event held in the United States at the end of next season.
But Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has made it clear his team will reject their invitation.
He said: “Fifa forgets that the teams will not participate in the new Club World Cup.
“A single Real Madrid match is worth £20million and Fifa wants to give us that amount for the entire tournament.
“We will decline the invitation.”
Fifa have reportedly been discussing rights and prize money with clubs, with Real Madrid not consulted.
The new-look Club World Cup is set to take place from June 15 to July 13 in 2025.
Teams from six confederations will take part, with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Juventus already qualified.
But the tournament’s expansion has been slammed by the global union of professional players Fifpro over concerns about player welfare due to the added fixtures to an already congested schedule.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
LaLiga chief Javier Tebas is also worried that Fifa will try to force some domestic leagues to cut down from 20 to 18 teams.
He said: “If we don’t take action the industry is in danger, right now. Fifa’s solution is just to create new competitions.
“But for that to happen and for us to be able to fit these competitions in, we would have to lose two clubs from La Liga.
“That would mean we’d have to make 70 players unemployed at those clubs and it would lose thousands of jobs related to those clubs.
“We need to fix the current problems before creating new competitions that will destroy the industry, clubs, jobs, the dreams of fans – and football.”
PFA chief Maheta Molango has claimed Premier League stars are ready to go on strike rather than play against their will.
Clubs and unions may also come together to launch a legal challenge that the current Club World Cup plans must be axed.