March 16 – Spain’s La Liga has thrown the book at FIFA for overhauling the international match calendar without sufficient consultation, in particular expanding the Club World Cup from seven to 32 teams from 2025.
Following in the footsteps of the European Leagues (see separate article) but using far more forceful language, La Liga accused the governing body of “malpractise” saying its expansion plans will “irreversibly damage the entire football ecosystem.”
“FIFA only takes into account a small group of clubs and players, when in professional football there are many professional leagues, thousands of clubs and players who do not participate in these international competitions,” the Spanish league charged.
“FIFA seems to forget that and only thinks of a few, without knowing the impact on all in professional football.”
On the eve of FIFA’s annual Congress in Rwanda where Gianni Infantino was re-elected president for a second term by acclamation, La Liga said his organisation had shown a “complete disregard” for the football community and said it would consider taking legal action “to prevent the Club World Cup with the announced format.”
“FIFA completely neglects the economic damage these decisions inflict on leagues around the world.
“These decisions do not take into account the competitive, sporting and economic impact on national leagues, clubs and players, by further cramming an already overloaded schedule.”
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