The decision to withdraw them from the Club World Cup is expensive for Leon, who, with other clubs in the Concacaf region, was to receive FIFA $ 9 million fees to participate in the group phase.
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The Mexico club Leon expressed “anger and indignation” after being withdrawn from the FIFA club World Cup which will take place in the United States later this year. Leon was ejected from the tournament after being accused of having violated the Purple property rules, although this did not prevent them from slamming the decision which “goes against the spirit of fair competition” and the vision of the filing of an appeal.
A FIFA call committee, responding to a complaint from the Costa Ricanc Club Alajuensense, judged that Leon and another club in Mexico, Pachuca, did not comply with the regulations of the multi-club property. The two parties belong to Grupo Pachuca.
However, it was Leon, the winners of the CONCACAF 2023 regional champions cup, which was thrown from the tournament while Pachuca, CONCACAF champions in 2024, was allowed to stay.
“The Leon club will be withdrawn from the competition, the club will be admitted to replacement which will be announced in due time,” said FIFA in a press release.
The decision is expensive for Leon, who, with other clubs in the Concacaf region, was to receive FIFA $ 9 million fees for participation in the group phase, a source told AFP.
The teams that advance from the group phase are eligible for more money prices in addition to these participation costs.
From the Concacaf region, the American teams of Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami also participate in the June-July tournament with another Mexican Club Monterrey.
Article 10.1 of the tournament regulations stipulate that no participating club can hold directly or indirectly or process the securities or actions of any other club in the competition.
“We are an independent, autonomous and sovereign team. That there is undoubtedly,” said Leon on social networks, adding that they “won the title of the Congacaf 2023 Champions League with equity and professionalism”.
The club condemned “a cruel, unjust measure, which we do not approve of and we do not know who it benefits, but which harms: our fans.”
“The Leon club will call on this decision and we are going to go to the final purposes to defend the place we have reached during the club World Cup.”
Unattractive pic.twitter.com/tv9y4bf8zf
– Club León (@ClubleDri) March 21, 2025
Leon had been attracted to the English giants Chelsea on June 16 in Atlanta before playing the Flamengo and the Esperance of Tunisia in Brazil.
The event at 32 teams, in the first edition of its extended format, takes place from June 14 to July 13 in the United States.
ALAJUNES has been eliminated in the round of 16 in the Concacaf Champions League by clubs in the United States in the past two seasons.
With AFP entrances
