Bartomeu to avoid Blatter at Club World Cup draw
At present, the relationship with FIFA is non-existent because the chiefs of Barcelona disagree with the punishment and because the meeting between Bartomeu and Blatter did not have the desired effect because the FIFA president delegated any responsibility for the sanction the Disciplinary Commission.
Since then, in addition, there have been some decisions that fuel further the bad atmosphere between the two entities. A FIFA order arrived a few weeks ago at the offices of Aristide Maillol prohibiting the presence in the training center of five players who were living and training at La Masia, and it is a demonstration that FIFA have Barcelona in their sights, and not just administrative errors.
The fact is there are different events in which Bartomeu and Blatter could again come face to face, but this is a long shot because of Bartomeu's position of not wanting to have anything more to do with FIFA while they are governed by Blatter.
Without going any further, next Wednesday the Club World Cup draw will be held at the headquarters of FIFA (Zurich) and Josep Maria Bartomeu has no intention of going as a representative of the club. Barca, although yet to confirm, plan to send some executives, something they did at the Ballon d'Or gala in January. Indeed, for the next annual edition of this gala Barca will have to decide whether to attend officially, or send some executives.
The club will know their first opponent in the Club World Cup, which begins within 80 days, on Wednesday. The teams that have already qualified are: River (Conmebol), Barcelona (UEFA), America (Concacaf) and Auckland City (Oceania). In turn, there are three places remaining, for: the champion of Africa, the Asian champion and the champion of Japan (given this position as they are hosts).
