A big club World Cup? That was an issue earlier. In 2001, FIFA planned a tournament with twelve teams, started the groups – and had to cancel the competition again.
The tournament was drawn, the Temrin was certain, the game plan too. The opening game of the club World Cup was to take place on July 28, 2001 in the Estadio Riazor in A Coruña in Spain: Deportivo La Coruña, Spanish champion 2000, was to compete against the Boca Juniors from Argentina. Further games should be played in the stadiums of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and today’s fifth -class SD Compostela.
Twelve teams were drawn in three groups, the three group winners and the best group second should reach the semi -finals:
- Group A: Boca Juniors (Argentina), Debortivo La Coruña (Spain), Wollongong Wolves (Australia), Zamalek FC (Egypt).
- Group B: Palmeiras (Brazil), CD Olimpia (Honduras), Galatasaray (Türkiye), Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia).
- Group C: Real Madrid (Spain), Jubilo Iwata (Japan), Accra Hearts of Oak (Ghana), Los Angeles Galaxy (USA).
But the news came two months before the kick -off: the tournament does not take place.
Breakdown of Marketing agency ISL
“The decision not to carry out this event as planned was made on the basis of various factors,” the then FIFA President Sepp Blatter was quoted in a message. The close schedule is also a reason. “The economic crisis in the countries of some participating clubs additionally tightens the existing economic difficulties.”
The “existing difficulties” was the scandal for the collapse of the sports marketing agency ISL, the most important partner of FIFA when selling television rights. The company went bankrupt these days.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter 2001
ISL paid millions FIFA official
The ISL, once founded by Adidas co-owner Horst Dassler, was at the center of a corruption system in FIFA. A process later found that almost 140 million Swiss francs were paid to sports officials. In return, ISL received media rights and sponsorship packages for marketing.
The ISL played a role in many associations and also distributed the rights of the Olympic Games, the ATP tournaments in tennis or swimming and light-wing world championships. The ISL was particularly relevant in world football, for example with the purchase of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
According to the court, numerous FIFA officials benefited from payments, and Blatter is said to have at least known the court.
Prevented attraction of the club World Cup 2001: Real Madrid
Exposed tournament for three years
The club World Cup was also not held from 2002 to 2004. It was not until 2005 that the six best teams of the six continental associations in Japan met to play a club world champion again. The tournament with six or seven teams was continued for many years, the FIFA experienced an even larger scandal, especially in 2015.
Gianni Infantino took over FIFA as a result of the scandal. He always promised a “new FIFA” that will all “make pride”. Many reforms were introduced – and turned back. One of his favorite projects is the current club World Cup, which is played for the first time with 32 teams – but causes a lot of criticism.