CHELSEA have been handed a major fixture change in the Club World Cup. some three months out from the competiton.
The Blues were set to face Mexican side Leon in their opening match of the summer tournament, but will now take on a different side after Fifa have KICKED OUT the Liga MX side.
Leon, who are currently second in Liga MX, have failed multi-club ownership rules relating to the competition - meaning they are now banned from competing.
Leon are part of a multi-club ownership group that also includes fellow LIga MX side CF Pachuca.
Due to Pachuca's involvement in the Club World Cup too, Fifa have decided that Leon must be ejected from the tournament.
A Fifa statement read: "Following disciplinary proceedings opened against CF Pachuca and Club Leon, the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee decided to refer the case directly to the FIFA Appeal Committee in accordance with article 56 paragraph 3 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
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"After having evaluated all evidence on file, the chairman of the FIFA Appeal Committee has decided that CF Pachuca and Club León failed to meet the criteria on multi-club ownership defined under article 10 paragraph 1 of the Regulations for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
"In line with article 10 paragraph 4 of the Regulations for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025M, FIFA has determined that Club León will be removed from the competition, with the club to be admitted as a replacement to be announced in due course."
No replacement has been decided for Leon yet.
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