A few days after his scathing remarks about FIFA, which allegedly favoured Argentina during the 2024 Copa América, James Rodríguez saw his Mexican club, León, excluded from the Club World Cup. A sanction that raises concerns given the circumstances.
Lost in the Mexican league since the end of January, when he left Rayo Vallecano (in La Liga), James Rodríguez has been trying to rediscover joy with Club León. A star in the Mexican league, like Sergio Ramos at CF Monterrey, Rodríguez had hoped to lead his team to the Club World Cup, scheduled for June in the USA. Having qualified for what promises to be an exciting tournament, León has unfortunately been excluded due to club ownership regulations. Just months before the competition, FIFA dropped the bombshell announcement this Friday.
The exclusion of Club León does not sit well
According to Gianni Infantino’s organisation, the exclusion of James Rodríguez’s club is justified by the fact that Grupo Pachuca owns both León and Pachuca, meaning only one team could participate. While the decision may be understandable, given FIFA’s clear rules on the matter, a major issue arises. Clubs such as the Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami, both managed under the same corporate structure, technically owned by the league, have been allowed to compete in the upcoming Club World Cup.
If FIFA’s rule is meant to prevent teams owned by the same group from competing in the same tournament, how does MLS manage to bypass it? Where is the consistency? Why exclude Club León while allowing Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami or the Seattle Sounders to take part? In Mexico, frustration is running high, with many arguing that fair play should not be selective. For conspiracy theorists, Club León is being punished because of James Rodríguez’s recent comments accusing FIFA of favouring Argentina during the 2024 Copa América.
James Rodríguez’s words that didn’t go down well
In an interview with Edu Aguirre, a journalist on the show El Chiringuito TV, the former Real Madrid player, who once claimed he was stronger than Zidane and Modrić at their peak, cast doubt on the transparency surrounding Argentina.
According to him, Lionel Messi’s nation won the 2024 Copa América primarily due to several manipulations that prevented Colombia from going all the way. “Yes, we had an excellent Copa, and on a personal level, it was spectacular. We wanted the title and came close, but due to external factors, we couldn’t become champions of America. The referee did not award us two penalties, and for me, one of them was clear. In every match, the VAR audio recordings were released, but not in the final—something strange happened,” Rodríguez initially claimed.
To support his argument, Rodríguez pointed out that his country was placed in the tougher side of the draw, facing Brazil, Uruguay, and the strongest opponents, while Argentina was placed in the weaker bracket after the group stage. “On top of that, we travelled much more, but these are not excuses. We arrived in top form for that match, played a great final, and they scored against us three minutes before the penalty shootout,” said the León player, as quoted by Diario AS.
Now, his remarks are resurfacing, and some believe FIFA did not take kindly to his insinuations, hence the sanction. In any case, everyone will have their own interpretation of the situation. Notably, in an official statement, Club León expressed its outrage over its exclusion from the upcoming Club World Cup, demanding transparent and impartial governance, particularly on the global stage.
Additionally, the Mexican club is preparing to take legal action. Far from backing down, León’s management has announced measures against FIFA. This story is far from over.
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