As MARCA has learned, more than 10 clubs have called FIFA officials in search of some legal loophole to participate in something that by sporting merit does not correspond to them
FIFA’s decision to exclude Leon from the Club World Cup following the double complaint filed by Alajuelense has made interest in the tournament for teams that either despised it or had forgotten about it because they had no chance of participating, has made the event created by FIFA for next summer has figured in their agendas since Friday, March 22
Read also:
- Arne Slot sends brutal warning to Liverpool stars about throwing away title to Arsenal
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe faces 99 Man Utd questions as fan who slammed Glazers changes focus
- Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister involved in huge brawl after Darwin Nunez incident
- Spring Statement: Rachel Reeves to argue defence cash will boost jobs – and deny return to austerity
- Ex-Tory minister tried to claim £3,000 for help writing a CV when election was called
As MARCA has learned, more than 10 clubs have called FIFA officials in search of some legal loophole to participate in something that they do not deserve on sporting merits. The allocation of places has been assigned for many months and it is known that Europe does not have access to another team to participate in the tournament.
That little detail matters little because there are several European clubs, including some from Spain, that have called to find out what is going on with the vacant spot. If nothing changes, the place left by Leon, because of the shared ownership with Pachuca, something that was evident from the beginning of the competition, but only the appeal to the CAS by the Costa Rican team has managed to reverse.
It is precisely Alajuelense who are the number one candidate and the overwhelming favorite to occupy that place, but not for having denounced the situation to the CAS, but for the sporting merits contracted that place them in that situation. It is the eligible team in the Concacaf ranking according to FIFA criteria, which prevent more than two teams per country, unless they are champions. The United States with two and Mexico with two, could not put another team.
At the moment, it occupies 15th place in the ranking, but the other 14 clubs ahead of it are either Mexican or American. Hence, beyond its two Central American championship titles, what makes it the team that should be in the World Cup is the ranking.
Even in Barcelona on Friday afternoon, there was speculation that the Catalan team might take that place. We do not know if it was one of those who called the brand new FIFA headquarters in Miami, but Europe has no chance of seeing one more team playing in the World Cup.
