The revamped Club World Cup continues to generate repercussions worldwide. Amid the media impact of Boca and River's participation, the recent statements by the president of La Liga of Spain, Javier Tebas, have reignited the debate about the value and interests behind the tournament.
During a LALIGA event for the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Royal Decree on audiovisual rights, the Spanish executive was asked about possible improvements to the club world championship and replied: "By eliminating it."
Tebas quiere destruir al Mundial de Clubes
"My goal is for there to be no more Club World Cups. I'm very clear about that," stated the president. "There are no dates. There's no need for another competition that moves money toward a sector of clubs and players. There's no more money here, the ecosystem must be maintained and it should be eliminated. Keep it as it was before. There are no dates," he asserted.
In that regard, on the CEF program on the AZZ channel, hosted by Flavio Azzaro, the debate arose about Europe's stance on the competition.
Regarding Tebas's remarks, journalist Jero Torres Santoro highlighted the success of the Club World Cup and the discomfort of UEFA clubs: "Boca in terms of significance, and we'll see if it later happens with River as well, is ready to compete with Real Madrid, Barcelona in terms of marketing, and what doesn't benefit them is sharing the pie."
Along the same lines, Azzaro pointed to the discomfort that this type of competition generates in the old continent. "They're concerned from every point of view, from the attraction, because Argentine soccer generates," he stated. He added: "For us, this Club World Cup is a matter for fans. For those who run it, it's a business."
The former host of "Fútbol al Horno" also praised River's presence: "What River is doing is also remarkable, because it's on the other side of the world... It doesn't have the same impact as Boca because there are more Boca fans here in the United States..."
The background of these statements seems to be the power struggle between FIFA and UEFA. "We know very well that there has always been tension between UEFA and FIFA," Azzaro recalled, and concluded: "These championships often make Europeans uncomfortable."
