James Rodriguez has blown up FIFA for their decision to kick Club Leon from the World Championship of Club, while the former Real Madrid star called the call a 'Grave Injustice'.
When the trek for the tournament was made in December, Leon landed in group D, next to Chelsea, Flamengo van Brazil and Tunisian outfit Esperance de Tunis.
However, Leon was recently removed from the competition due to a violation of the FIFA's regulations around Multi-Club ownership.
Both Leon and Liga MX Rivals CF Pachuca are owned by Grupo Pachuca. Although both had initially qualified for the extensive 32-team tournament, their participation was challenged on the basis of the fact 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 in 45th place by FIFA, is the highest ranked Concacaf team, not from Mexico or the MLS, and therefore the next most suitable representative.
And the Colombian superstar Rodriguez expressed its anger for the decision in a spontaneous press conference on Saturday, with the argument that FIFA 'has to bring their things together'.
“I think it's a serious injustice,” Rodriguez told reporters. “We all believe that. We won on the field.
'The club and the players are hurt by this. If we think about this, it is not fair. The team that would replace us would be stained, football would be stained.
'So many fans are planning to travel to the tournament, how do you tell them that they cannot go? I have many questions about this. It's strange. I think FIFA should bring their things together. Football is stained by this. '
Rodriguez joined the Mexican outfit Leon in January with a one -year -old deal, and one of the most important motivations behind his move was to play in the Club World Cup.
The 33-year-old, however, stated that recent procedures will not influence his future at the club, and that he is happy, regardless of whether the club will play in the competition this summer.
“I am happy to be here,” Rodriguez added. 'Whether we play in the World Cup Club or not, 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 gone. I hope FIFA can do something. '
After he was cut out of competition, Leon responded to the ruling with a highly formulated statement of their own statement, in which he expressed 'disagreement' with the decision of FIFA and promised to investigate legal action.
A statement was: “Club Leon expresses his disagreement with the FIFA decision, which could exclude us from the next club World Cup,” said the statement. 'In recent months we have presented every evidence and documents that confirm that Club Leon works autonomously in all economic, administrative and sporting aspects.
“If Club Leon is prevented from participating in the World Cup 2025 Club with the same rights with which it has earned a place on the field, we will pursue the matter as well as possible in the highest sports courts.”
The club World Cup 2025 will contain 32 teams compared to only seven in previous years.
With the increased number of clubs that compete, the total price pot has increased to no less than £ 840 million.
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