June 18 – Javier Tebas is seemingly determined not to make FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s Christmas card list, as his criticisms of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup are becoming increasingly vitriolic. But here’s the thing – he might actually have a point.
Last week, the La Liga president called the tournament “completely absurd”, and at an event at the ESADE Business School in Madrid, he didn’t hold back: “My objective is that there will be no more Club World Cups. I’m very clear about that.”
“There is no room for it. There is no need for another competition that moves money towards the [same] clubs and players. The model affects the entire ecosystem of national leagues, especially in Europe, and there’s no more money in the world of audiovisual rights.”
Now, before we dismiss this as typical Tebas grandstanding, because he does love a. camera and microphone, let’s examine what he’s actually saying. Tebas has played a major role in building La Liga into one of the world’s most successful domestic competitions, and his concerns about fixture congestion aren’t exactly groundless.
“We have to maintain the ecosystem we have already and eliminate it. Keep [the Club World Cup] as it was before, when it was played basically over one weekend and that was that. There are no available dates.”
Here’s where Tebas makes his strongest argument. The football calendar is already bursting at the seams. Pre-seasons are shrinking, winter breaks are disappearing, and players are openly talking about strike action over workload.
Two Spanish clubs are representing La Liga in the form of Madrid rivals Atlético and Real Madrid, which is where Tebas’ frustration gets ratcheted up to eleven. And you can understand why – he’s watching his prized assets get pulled into yet another FIFA competition that could potentially impact their domestic form and availability.
“It’s not just about the physical wear and tear on the players, which is obvious, but the Club World Cup model affects the entire ecosystem of national leagues, especially in Europe.”
But here’s the flip side. FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup represents a genuine attempt to globalise the game beyond Europe’s traditional strongholds. For clubs from Asia, Africa, and the Americas, this tournament offers exposure and revenue streams that could transform their entire operations.
The tournament also addresses a glaring inequality in world football. While European clubs hoover up the lion’s share of global revenues through the Champions League, clubs from other continents are left fighting for scraps. The expanded Club World Cup, with its significant prize money and global audience, could help level that playing field – even if only slightly.
What we’re really witnessing is a clash between established power and emerging opportunity. Tebas represents the old guard – European leagues that have grown fat on their own success and see any new competition as a threat to their dominance. FIFA, for all its flaws, is trying to create something that serves the global game rather than just the European elite.
The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. Tebas is right about fixture congestion and player welfare – these are real issues that need addressing. But his solution of maintaining the status quo essentially means keeping the rest of the world locked out of football’s biggest paydays.
This is a saga that will not be ending anytime soon.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1750233537labto1750233537ofdlr1750233537owedi1750233537sni@r1750233537etsbe1750233537w.kci1750233537n1750233537