Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, has strongly criticised the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup after a weather delay disrupted their Round of 16 clash against Benfica on Saturday.
The match, which held on June 28, 2025, took almost five hours to complete after it was stopped with just five minutes remaining due to a heavy storm. Chelsea were leading 1-0 before the break in play.
After play resumed, Benfica equalised through Angel Di Maria’s penalty. But the game swung back in Chelsea’s favour after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni was sent off. Chelsea then scored three more goals through Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to win 4-1.
Speaking after the match, a frustrated Maresca said, “It’s not football, it’s a joke. This competition is being ruined by the weather. If you have to stop seven or eight games already, then maybe this is not the right place to host the tournament.”
The 2025 Club World Cup has seen several matches interrupted due to bad weather, with at least six games across different host cities suspended so far.
Maresca’s comments reflect growing concerns from clubs and fans about the choice of venue and the tournament’s scheduling, especially with safety and fairness at stake.
