James Rodriguez has blasted FIFA for their decision to kick Club Leon out of the Club World Cup, as the former Real Madrid star labelled the call a ‘grave injustice’.
When the draw for the tournament was made in December, Leon landed in Group D, alongside Chelsea, Flamengo of Brazil and Tunisian outfit Esperance de Tunis.
However, Leon were recently removed from the competition due to a breach of FIFA’s regulations surrounding multi-club ownership.
Both Leon and Liga MX rivals CF Pachuca are owned by Grupo Pachuca. Although both had initially qualified for the expanded 32-team tournament, their participation was challenged on the grounds that they share ownership.
Last week, it was reported that Leon will be replaced by Costa Rican side Alajuelense, while Pachuca will remain in the competition. Alajuelense, currently ranked 45th globally by FIFA, is the highest-ranked CONCACAF team not from Mexico or the MLS, and therefore the next most suitable representative.
And Colombian superstar Rodriguez expressed his anger towards the decision in an impromptu press conference on Saturday, arguing that FIFA need to ‘get their things together’.
James Rodriguez said FIFA’s call to kick his side from the Club World Cup is a ‘grave injustice’
Club Leon were booted from the competition due to a breach of FIFA’s regulations surrounding multi-club ownership
The 2025 Club World Cup will begin on June 15, with 32 teams featuring in the competition
‘I think it’s a grave injustice,’ Rodriguez told reporters. ‘We all believe that. We won on the pitch.
‘The club and the players are hurt by this. Thinking about this, if we’re out, it’s not fair. The team that would replace us would be stained, football would be stained.
‘So many fans have planned to travel to the tournament, how do you tell them that they can’t go? I have a lot of questions about all this. It’s odd. I think FIFA has to get their things together. Football is stained by this.’
Rodriguez joined Mexican outfit Leon in January on a one-year deal, and one of the key motivations behind his move was to play in the Club World Cup.
However, the 33-year-old insisted that recent proceedings will not effect his future at the club, and that he is happy where is regardless of whether the club feature in the competition this summer.
‘I’m happy to be here,’ Rodriguez added. ‘Whether or not we play in the Club World Cup does not change the fact that I want to stay here.
‘This is something new for me. I never qualified for a Club World Cup, and weeks before they tell you that you are out. I hope FIFA can do something.’
After being cut from the competition, Leon responded to the ruling with a strongly worded statement of their own, expressing ‘disagreement’ with FIFA’s decision and vowing to explore legal action.
Alajuelense, ranked 45th in the world by FIFA, are likely to replace Leon in the competition
A statement read: ‘Club Leon expresses its disagreement with the decision made by FIFA, which could exclude us from the next Club World Cup,’ the statement read. ‘In recent months, we have presented each piece of evidence and documents confirming that Club Leon operates autonomously in all economic, administrative, and sporting aspects.
‘Should Club Leon be prevented from participating in the 2025 Club World Cup with the same rights with which it earned a place on the pitch, we will pursue the matter to the fullest extent possible in the highest sporting courts.’
The 2025 Club World Cup will feature 32 teams, compared to only seven in previous years.
With the increased number of clubs competing, the overall prize pot has increased to a staggering £840million.
