November 22 – One of Costa Rica’s leading clubs has accused FIFA of breaking its own rules and is threatening legal action unless it is given in a slot in next year’s 32-team Club World Cup which is seemingly becoming more contentious with every passing week.
Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, which boasts 30 league titles, says it should be part of the tournament – and get a share of the so far undisclosed prize fund – since two Mexican clubs invited to the event are under the same ownership
Club León and Club de Fútbol Pachuca, both owned by the Pachuca Group, qualified by winning the Concacaf Champions Cup in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
But Alajuelense are reported to have filed a legal complaint urging FIFA’s general secretariat to remove one of the Mexican clubs to “protect the integrity of the competition” – pet project of FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Four clubs from Concacaf will participate at the event with Monterrey, also from Mexico, and Seattle Sounders from the MLS having also qualified. A fifth, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, have controversially been added to the entry list having been specially invited by Infantino to give the competition more local interest and commercial impact.
Alajuelense insist FIFA must enforce its rule barring clubs with shared ownership from competing.
“The claim is based on the eligibility principles set out in the tournament’s rules,” Alajuelense said in a statement.
Club spokesman Marco Vazquez added: “Those are the rules that FIFA established – there cannot be multi-ownership. There are two Mexican clubs from the same owner and the rulebook is clear. What we are asking is to review what FIFA itself established.”
Vazquez said Alajuelense has “hired a law firm in Spain, and they have all the details” of the team’s potential legal action with the draw scheduled for December 5.
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