The FIFA Club World Cup started on June 14 in the United States, and the competition has reached the quarterfinal stage with matches scheduled for this week.
Since its announcement, the Club World Cup has been on the receiving end of criticism, especially for its schedule, which interferes with the teams’ resting time in between seasons.
The other issues pointed out by critics about the competition also include the injuries that players could sustain, which would further affect them in the upcoming campaign, and the physical toll that comes with the trips.
Now, Barcelona ace Raphinha has voiced his opinion on the Club World Cup, slamming FIFA over the scheduling of the competition.
What did Barcelona’s Raphinha say about the Club World Cup?
While speaking at an event, Raphinha mentioned how the Club World Cup is essentially ‘forced’ upon players, who have to ‘give up’ their ‘sacred’ vacation time.
“It’s very difficult to give up vacation time to play something we’re forced to. Many of the World Cup participants won’t have vacation time; it’s unacceptable. Three weeks of vacation time are sacred. You have to go, period, because we follow orders; we have to be there playing,” as per GOAL.
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“And, as a player for a European club, giving up my vacation to play in a new tournament is very complicated. It’s really bad having to give up your vacation to play something you’re forced to, because at no point did they ask us players about anything. At no point did they ask us if we wanted to play or what the ideal dates were. They just said we had to go and that’s it.”
Raphinha and Barcelona are not a part of the ongoing Club World Cup and are currently looking forward to their pre-season friendly match against Japanese side Vissel Kobe.
The Catalan club is set to kick off their upcoming La Liga season with their clash against Mallorca on August 17, at Estadi Mallorca Son Moix.
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