In an unexpected tour that shook the foundations of international football, Enrique Cerezo, president of Atletico Madrid, sent a fulminating and direct message to FIFA, demanding that FC Barcelona be excluded from the upcoming Club World Cup. In a moment of great tension, Cerezo declared nine words that traveled the sports world: “If Barcelona play, we will not be in the World Cup.”
The statement was considered an open threat of lame by Atletico and caused a wave of reactions on a national and international scale. The president of Rojiblanco expressed his profound indignation at what he considers the lack of sports equity and a comparative complaint against other clubs.
Cerezo, who in recent months has maintained a discreet profile, surprised everyone by penetrating the debate with a position without compromising and determining. According to sources close to the mattress club, the discomfort comes from FIFA’s decision to invite FC Barcelona to the tournament, despite legal research and current issues that weigh in the Barça entity, particularly around the “slave case”, which is still analyzed by the Spanish court.
“You can’t reward a club that is the subject of serious irregularities survey, while others satisfy all the ethical and sporting requirements for being,” Cherry Tree said in particular, according to information filtered into sports media. The public sentence of nine words was only the beginning of institutional pressure that could rise in the coming weeks.
FIFA’s response was fast. In a statement published a few hours later, the president of the best World Football Agency, Gianni Infantino, responded tightly, noting that FIFA acts in accordance with the principles of inclusion, the presumption of innocence and sports meritocracy. “No clubs will be excluded by external pressures or public statements. Decisions are made based on technical and legal criteria and not threats,” Infantino said.
The strength of the message left it without immediate arguments. According to some journalists attending Atletico Madrid headquarters, the club president chose to silence after knowing the official response and refusing to offer more statements on the subject.
The conflict opens a new front in the relationship already tense between certain Spanish clubs and the organizations that govern international football. For months, a climate of distrust between several Laliga and FIFA teams, aggravated by decisions related to calendars, income distribution and now the criteria for selecting renewed world clubs, which will have 32 teams and will be held in 2025.
Meanwhile, FC Barcelona, focused on controversy, made no official comments. However, the club environment, a mixture of serenity and firmness is perceived. The directors of the Catalan team ensure that their participation in the World Cup is fully justified by accumulated sports in recent seasons and actively collaborate with the authorities to clarify any legal problem without response.
Barcelona’s silence contrasts with the vehement of Cerezo, whose position polarized public opinion. On social networks, Atletico Madrid fans supported their president, praising their courage to “defend sports justice.” However, there were also criticism, in particular neutral followers and Barcelona, who see Cerezo’s attitude an attempt to manipulate institutions for a competitive advantage.
In the international football community, the news has had an impact. Analysts from various countries have discussed whether it is legitimate to demand the exclusion of a club as long as there is no final sentence against it. Most are appropriate that FIFA cannot act by the media or political pressure and that any measure must have legal support.
Some sports law experts also warned that if FIFA even excluded FC Barcelona without a solid legal basis, they could appeal before sports arbitration (TAS), which would add even more complexity to the issue.
At the same time, other European clubs observe the development of prudence events. It is supposed that if the scale conflict could be an institutional fracture within the club’s World Cup organization, in a context already complicated by tensions between UEFA, FIFA and Super League promoters.
In short, Enrique Cerezo’s nine words caused an earthquake in elite football. Although FIFA’s response seems to close the door of his order, the media and political pressure will continue to increase as the tour date is approaching. What seemed like a simple question from the guest list became a new chapter of the eternal debate between justice, power and football.
