La Liga against Club World Cup? President vows to stop future editions
Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, once again voiced strong opposition to the FIFA Club World Cup during the official draw for the upcoming Spanish first division season. Tebas stated bluntly that the tournament “harms the calendar” and vowed to “do everything possible to ensure it is never played again.”
Tebas’s criticism centers on two main points. First, he highlighted the overloaded schedule for teams that participate in the competition. For instance, if Real Madrid reaches the final, they would end the season having played 69 matches, leaving their players with just a few weeks of vacation. He also lamented the fact that the tournament was launched without consultation from domestic and international competitions.
His second concern relates to the financial rewards involved. Tebas described the prize money as “outrageous” and pointed out how it exacerbates the economic disparity between clubs: “The money these clubs receive creates a competitiveness problem.” He was clear and direct: “I’ll do everything in my power to prevent this tournament from happening again.”
Finally, he didn’t hold back in calling out what he sees as hypocrisy from clubs like Real Madrid: “They ask for more matchdays off, but then take in €140 million—twice Alavés’s entire budget—and still ask for time to prepare. We’re losing perspective.”
Florentino Pérez responds to Javier Tebas
Two weeks ago, Tebas made similar comments during a talk at ESADE Business School in Madrid, where he expressed his desire to “eliminate” the Club World Cup from the soccer calendar.
Before Real Madrid’s debut in the tournament, long-time club president and vocal supporter of the competition Florentino Pérez responded firmly: “I want to thank FIFA for giving fans around the world the chance to watch the best clubs compete in such a beautiful tournament. This first Club World Cup—I’m confident—will be a great success. We all came here with that excitement.”
He added: “We finally achieved something we’ve fought for a long time. Soccer is the most global sport, and thanks to technology, we can play this tournament—and it’s free to watch. It means kids all over the world can see Real Madrid.”