Andrés Guardado Criticizes FIFA and Alajuelense Amid Club World Cup Controversy
Mexican footballer raises concerns over exclusion of León from upcoming tournament due to ownership rules.
Andrés Guardado, the captain of Club León and a prominent figure in Mexican football, has publicly criticized both FIFA and Costa Rican club Alajuelense regarding León's exclusion from the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
This exclusion follows a ruling in which FIFA determined that León and their fellow Group Pachuca teams were ineligible to participate due to its regulations prohibiting multiple ownership in the tournament.
The situation escalated when León initially lodged a complaint with FIFA, which subsequently led to an appeal brought to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS).
The TAS ruled that the two clubs belonging to the same ownership group could not both compete in the tournament, citing FIFA's long-standing policy against multiple ownership of participating clubs.
Guardado expressed disappointment at the current predicament, stating that it is unjust for teams that did not qualify through their performance on the field to now position themselves as potential participants in the World Cup.
He added, 'Teams that are now raising their hands to go… What face do they have?
They could not earn their spots on the field… They had the same chance to qualify for a Concachampions and win it… León had the same opportunity as everyone else… They don’t win, and now they raise their hands… That would embarrass me.'
In his remarks, Guardado also placed significant blame on FIFA for the situation, asserting that it was primarily their mismanagement that led to the current issues surrounding ownership rules.
'If someone did something wrong, it was FIFA, not León. The multiple ownership has existed for years.
The regulation was created after the fact.
FIFA handled everything incorrectly; León attended the draw, Infantino welcomed them, and in less than 100 days, they were told they could not go.
That is wrong,' he stated.
The FIFA Club World Cup is set to feature club teams from multiple nations competing for the global title, and León's absence marks a significant controversy in this year's tournament.
The outcome of the recent rulings emphasizes ongoing tensions regarding the governance of club football on an international scale.
This exclusion follows a ruling in which FIFA determined that León and their fellow Group Pachuca teams were ineligible to participate due to its regulations prohibiting multiple ownership in the tournament.
The situation escalated when León initially lodged a complaint with FIFA, which subsequently led to an appeal brought to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS).
The TAS ruled that the two clubs belonging to the same ownership group could not both compete in the tournament, citing FIFA's long-standing policy against multiple ownership of participating clubs.
Guardado expressed disappointment at the current predicament, stating that it is unjust for teams that did not qualify through their performance on the field to now position themselves as potential participants in the World Cup.
He added, 'Teams that are now raising their hands to go… What face do they have?
They could not earn their spots on the field… They had the same chance to qualify for a Concachampions and win it… León had the same opportunity as everyone else… They don’t win, and now they raise their hands… That would embarrass me.'
In his remarks, Guardado also placed significant blame on FIFA for the situation, asserting that it was primarily their mismanagement that led to the current issues surrounding ownership rules.
'If someone did something wrong, it was FIFA, not León. The multiple ownership has existed for years.
The regulation was created after the fact.
FIFA handled everything incorrectly; León attended the draw, Infantino welcomed them, and in less than 100 days, they were told they could not go.
That is wrong,' he stated.
The FIFA Club World Cup is set to feature club teams from multiple nations competing for the global title, and León's absence marks a significant controversy in this year's tournament.
The outcome of the recent rulings emphasizes ongoing tensions regarding the governance of club football on an international scale.
