Spanish Super Cup set to take place in Saudi Arabia
The Spanish Super Cup, along with a new format, is now set to take place in Saudi Arabia.
The feud between Luis Rubiales and Javier Tebas seems to have a new chapter with Rubiales announcing that the Spanish Super Cup will now be held in Saudi Arabia.
The new format will see Valencia, the Copa del Rey winners, take on Real Madrid while Barcelona, the league winners, will take on Atletico Madrid.
The decision has been heavily criticized with many seeing this as nothing more than a financially based decision considering the less than stellar track record of the host nation. Playing the tournament outside of Spain also means more games and a more compressed calendar.
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Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) defended the decision and hopes that by hosting Super Cup there, it can bring about change.
According to ESPN, he said,
"“We hope that our opinion will be respected, which is to back the people that are in Saudi Arabia and to collaborate with the country’s federation to serve as tool for social change.” – Luis Rubiales (quote via ESPN)"
As part of the agreement, Marca report that women will be allowed to attend the match, sit wherever they want, and wear whatever they want.
Rubiales also took a dig at LaLiga president Javier Tebas when asked why the Super Cup could be held abroad but not a league fixture.
According to Marca, he said,
"“Only the Supercopa can leave Spain. Domestic league matches can’t leave our borders. The players asked us that, if we [played the Supercopa outside of] Spain, it would be with a smooth time difference.” – Luis Rubiales (quote via Marca)"
But Rubiales and the federation are already being met with complaints by one of its participants.
Valencia are unhappy with the prize money as they are set to receive less than Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Marca report that Valencia are set to receive less than three million euros for competing while Barcelona and Real Madrid will get close to nine million.
In a sporting sense, it also seems unfair to Valencia.
Valencia won the Copa del Rey which meant that under the old format, they would face Barcelona in the final of the Super Cup.
With the new format, they may not even make it to the final as they could very well lose to Real Madrid. A Real Madrid side who finished well behind of Barcelona in the league. They could win a tournament based on their performance from last season which went poorly.
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The tournament is set to be held in early January but expect to hear more backlash especially from Javier Tebas as the feud between LaLiga and the RFEF is sure to continue.