By Andrew Warshaw
December 9 – The Club World Cup, FIFA’s prized seven-team annual competition that was set up partially to try and wrest some of the global attention away from Europe and give all six continents their own trophy to play for, gets under way in Morocco on Wednesday amid a pay dispute that threatens to disrupt proceedings.
The champions of Asia, Australia’s Western Sydney Wanderers, are embroiled in a potentially damaging rift over prize money between the players and the A-League club’s board which shows no sign of being resolved.
Wanderers coach Tony Popovic and his squad have arrived in Morocco where they are scheduled to face CONCACAF champions Cruz Azul in a quarter-final on Saturday. Victory against the Mexican side would then set up a dream tie against Real Madrid.
However, there is still a possibility Wanderers’ games will not go ahead after talks between the club, the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) and senior players broke down.
PFA chief executive Adam Vivian said in a statement: “The players have made every attempt to reach an agreement on a fair and equitable share of the prize money. Despite these intentions the club has consistently refused to negotiate in good faith. As a result of this the players, with the full support of the PFA, have unanimously taken the decision to consider their participation in the tournament.”
According to Australian Associated Press, the players are searching for an extra A$200,000 ($166,000) to be divided up between the squad ahead of their opener.
“We have no intention of being greedy, we just want a fair deal. We certainly don’t think we’re asking for an amount that is unreasonable,” one player was quoted as saying.
Although the tournament brings together the champion club sides from each continent, plus an additional team from the host nation, FIFA’s claim that it is “the biggest club title of them all” seems a little over the top given that, rightly or wrongly, it has not yet captured the imagination globally in the same way the Champions League has, for example. Though a play off between the champions of South America and Europe is always eagerly anticipated.
The tournament this year comprises Spain’s Real Madrid, Argentina’s San Lorenzo, Mexico’s Cruz Azul, Australia’s Western Sydney Wanderers, Algeria’s ES Setif plus Morocco’s Moghreb Tetouan and Auckland City from New Zealand who kick off proceedings in Rabat in the quest to succeed Bayern Munich as champions.
With their galaxy of stars, Real will start firm favourites to continue Europe’s domination of the tournament, the continent having provided six of the last seven winners.
Nevertheless, San Lorenzo believe they can spring an upset for South America. “We’re not going there to see the sights,” midfielder Nestor Ortigoza told FIFA.com. “We won the Libertadores but now we have to turn the page and keep on making history. We’re a good side and we’re going to be up to the task.”
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