Jurgen Klopp has made a strong statement toward FIFA.

Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, criticized the schedule of the Club World Cup, World Cup, and continental competitions during an interview with Germany's 'Sport 1' on the 28th (Korea time), saying, "Players can no longer endure this."

The expanded Club World Cup launched by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), which dreams of a $1 billion blockbuster, is being thoroughly ignored in front of the audience. This tournament, held for the first time with 32 teams, is experiencing a bitter taste of failure due to preparations focused more on money than on principles.

FIFA claimed, "1.5 million tickets have been sold," but the reality is quite different. Empty seats were noticeable throughout the stadium, and in some matches, the attendance barely exceeded 3,000. Even the European champion Paris Saint-Germain could not draw a full house, while Ulsan from the K League had to play in front of just over 3,000 fans.

Despite being called the 'Club World Cup,' it was actually just an 'unfamiliar event' lacking in fandom and symbolism. Ultimately, the issue is 'money.' FIFA neglected organized preparations, focusing instead on broadcasting rights and prize money negotiations. The marketing for ticket sales in the United States was subpar.

Moreover, the promotional materials and signs for the host city were not properly prepared. The significance of the tournament and communication with fans were missing, with FIFA's focus solely on 'matching numbers' identified as a key reason for the poor turnout. There were also criticisms of a lack of promotion and guidance for clubs from peripheral leagues in Asia and Africa.

However, from the clubs' perspective, there is an unavoidable temptation in the vast prize money offered by FIFA. Regarding this situation, Klopp pointed out, "People who are no longer related to football create the tournament," targeting FIFA and European football administrators.

Klopp noted that while the Club World Cup brings in significant revenue, only a few clubs can benefit from it, while the majority of players are overworked.

The story of Virgil van Dijk, a favorite during his Liverpool days, was also mentioned. Klopp strongly criticized, saying, "NBA players receive four months of rest after the season, while players like van Dijk have never enjoyed such rest throughout their careers."

In addition to the Club World Cup, Klopp warned of the excessive number of matches for football players. He argued that requiring players to play 70 to 75 matches a year is unreasonable and will inevitably lead to physical and mental damage.

Finally, Klopp emphasized, "A sustainable approach is necessary. If players are not given time to recover, the performance and value of the players will ultimately decline."

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