Mexico's Club Leon gets ejected from the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup; here's why

The decision to remove them from the Club World Cup is a costly one for Leon, who along with other clubs from the CONCACAF region were due to receive a $9 million fee from FIFA for participation in the group stage. Reuters Mexico’s Club Leon have expressed “anger and indignation” after they were removed from the FIFA Club World Cup that will be taking place in the United States later this year. A FIFA appeals committee, responding to a complaint by Costa Rican club Alajuelense, ruled that Leon and another club from Mexico, Pachuca, failed to meet tournament regulations on multi-club ownership. Let there be no doubt,” Leon protested on social media, adding that they “won the 2023 CONCACAF Champions League title with fairness and professionalism.” The club condemned “a measure that is cruel, unfair, which we do not endorse and we do not know who it benefits, but who it harms: our fans.” “Club Leon will appeal this decision and we will go to the ultimate lengths to defend the place we attained in the Club World Cup.” Leon had been drawn to face English giants Chelsea on June 16 in Atlanta before playing Brazil’s Flamengo and Esperance of Tunisia.