A few days ago, on the SER’s Carrusel, the issue of the oversupply of matches was raised and someone raised the strangeness that the players tolerated it. They tolerate it, Axel Torres recalled, because the abuse does not affect everyone, but rather that select minority that we all see in the foreground: those from the big Champions League clubs, also internationals with their countries. And they tolerate it because they would hardly accept reducing their income in exchange for reducing the number of matches.
But this is going beyond reasonable limits. This year, Real Madrid could reach 72 games if they reach the finals of all the matches they play and if they do not qualify in the first round of the Champions League, which would be rare, and they have to play the round of 32. It is an extreme case, but it would be rare if they do not reach 65. Their international players, who are the majority, will have to add those of their respective national teams.
The novelty is, apart from a slight increase in Champions League matches, the tremendous prospect of the Club World Cup at full speed, which FIFA had been threatening for some time. It already wanted to do it in 2021, in China, but it did not happen, and the pandemic delayed it until now. For 2025 it is already taken for granted. Madrid and Atlético will go for Spain, thanks to the results of the last four years. There are 12 Europeans, 6 from South America (two have yet to qualify, the next Libertadores champion and another by ranking), 4 each from Asia, Africa and Central-North America, one from Oceania and one USA team, the organizer, whose designation criteria are not yet known.
There are no stadiums yet, and the television rights have not been sold. All that is known is that there will be one, because FIFA wants it and it is worth it. It will take up the summer and force several national championships to change their dates. It will be four-yearly and will be played in four-team groups; then quarterfinals, semifinals and final. Seven matches for the two finalists.
And what about that World Cup we were playing in? That still exists, renamed Intercontinental. It will be in December, but it is not known where. The only thing that Madrid, who will be the Champions League champion, knows is that they are scheduled for the final, on December 18. Until now, the European champion entered in the semi-finals, but that is no longer the case. The Libertadores champion will have to play in it.
In short, FIFA puts the cart before the horse, it dominates dates and uses the clubs as it pleases. The origin is in its jealousy of UEFA, which has the Champions League revenues every year plus, every four, those of the European Championship, while FIFA only had (I’m talking about large-scale revenues) those of the World Cup for national teams. It thought of doing this every two years, but was intimidated by the opposition of UEFA, supported by South America. FIFA and UEFA are at odds. They understand each other so poorly that they mark their differences even in the interpretation of the Regulations. FIFA, whose refereeing boss is Collina, instigates the big discounts, hence the nonsense we have seen in Paris 2024. Rosetti, UEFA’s refereeing boss, prefers them more moderate, and that is how we see it, thank God, in our championship and in the Champions League.
In short, Madrid has this year the European Super Cup (already in the bag), the League, the Champions League, the Intercontinental Cup, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup and, to top it off, the Club World Cup, which is like the saying “we were few and grandma gave birth.” Infantino’s whim, against which Ancelotti protested, but was immediately silenced by Madrid because for Florentino the bad guy is Ceferin, who stopped him from winning the Super League, and not Infantino, who encouraged him, although later, in the face of failure, he took a backseat.
FIFPRO, which represents the players’ unions, and the European leagues, which represent more than a thousand teams from 33 countries, have filed a joint complaint against FIFA with the EU; we will see how it goes. As of today, the plan is still in force, even without a television agreement to pay for it or stadiums to host it. But the clubs are resigned. After all, they always need money to get out of the trap they get into by signing such huge salaries.
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