Valverde: Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia due to money

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia: Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde said Wednesday the Spanish Super Cup is being held in Saudi Arabia because of the money on offer and admits he preferred the previous format.

Barca were to face Atletico Madrid in the second semi-final on Thursday. Real Madrid have already booked their place in the final after defeating Valencia 31 on Wednesday. The final will take place at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Jeddah on Sunday.

This is the first year the Spanish Super Cup has been held in Saudi Arabia, after a controversial three-year contract worth 120 million euros was struck with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), who run the competition.

The clubs will also benefit financially. For participating alone, Real Madrid and Barcelona will earn around 6 million euros while Atletico and Valencia will make around 3 million euros.

But the RFEF have faced accusations of betraying local Spanish fans while critics also question the association with a country long-condemned for its treatment of women and record on human rights.

“I know there has been a lot said about this competition but the bottom line is football

Football has become a business and as a business it looks for income. That’s the reason we are all here. Ernesto Valverde

has become a business and as a business it looks for income,” said Valverde at a press conference in Jeddah.

“That’s the reason we are all here.”

Previously, the Spanish Super Cup has been held in Spain in August, before the start of the league season and involving only the winners of La Liga and champions of the Copa del Rey.

But the RFEF has not only changed the location but expanded the format, with the next two highest placed teams in La Liga also now taking part.

“It’s a completely different format to what we’re used to,” said Valverde. “It was always the first title and the opener of the season and to me that seemed fine.

“It’s been changed and let’s see, it will be judged once it has happened.

It’s interesting,

— AFP photo Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos (centre) celebrates his goal teammates during the Spanish Super Cup semi-final between Valencia and Real Madrid at the King Abdullah Sport City in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah. Kroos scored a wonder goal straight from a corner as Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-1 to reach the Sunday’s final, where they will meet the winner of Thursday’s second semi-final between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.