Kaveh Solhekol’s Comments on Jurgen Klopp Spark Debate Over Club World Cup
Kaveh Solhekol may not have done himself any favours after publicly challenging Jurgen Klopp’s recent remarks during a Sky Sports segment.
The well-known journalist was reacting to criticism made by the former Liverpool manager regarding the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup.
Klopp, now 58, once again raised concerns about player welfare when discussing the off-season tournament.
Speaking to Welt (via TNT Sports), Klopp said, “At the end of the day, the game should be the focus—not everything around it. And from that perspective, the Club World Cup is one of the worst ideas football has ever had.”
He went on to criticize decision-makers who are no longer involved in the daily grind of the sport, saying that such tournaments leave players with no real physical or mental recovery time. Klopp highlighted the growing calendar congestion, pointing to the Copa America and Euros last year, the Club World Cup this year, and the World Cup next year.
Drawing comparisons to other sports, he said: “An NBA player earns a big salary too, but they get a four-month break annually. Virgil van Dijk has had that much time off in his whole career.”
Klopp is now working with Red Bull as their Head of Global Football.
Solhekol’s Response to Klopp
In response, Solhekol suggested Klopp should “go play padel or go swimming” before weighing in on the financial structure of modern football. He challenged Klopp’s stance by referencing Red Bull Salzburg’s potential earnings from the competition.
“Klopp’s now a senior figure at Red Bull – does he have an issue with Salzburg being in the tournament?” Solhekol asked. “They could’ve made £20 to £40 million just by participating in the group stages.”
He added: “Let’s be honest. If these clubs weren’t playing in this tournament, what would they be doing? They’d be on holiday now, but then heading off on pre-season tours in the U.S. or Asia. Football’s no longer just a sport. Whether we like it or not, it’s a business driven by money. If you don’t like that, don’t watch it.”
Why Klopp’s Point Still Matters
Most fans and observers understand that football is now a massive commercial enterprise, with clubs often just trying to break even. Still, dismissing Klopp’s core argument—player health and well-being—is short-sighted.
Sure, clubs like RB Salzburg have benefitted financially from the Club World Cup. But do extra matches help preserve high performance across Europe’s top leagues, amid an already packed schedule of domestic and international games? Certainly not.
Regardless of how much money is involved, normalizing a reality where players are pushed to their physical and mental limits just to maximize profit is troubling.
Yes, these athletes are handsomely paid and far removed from financial hardship—but does that justify FIFA and UEFA pushing them to the brink?
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