FIFA reversed course and once again recognizes Boca as world champion in 2000 and 2003 – Diario La Página – 2024-09-26 21:41:11

The controversy arose in the last few hours after the viralization of an article published by FIFA on September 20. In it, details are given of the new format of the Intercontinental Cup, which is held in parallel to the Club World Cup. Why was controversy generated? The body that governs international football excluded the Boca teams that won glory in the years 2000 and 2003 from the list of world champions.

Although the International Association of Football Federation recalled that in 2017 its Council approved a motion with which all the European and South American teams that had won the so-called Intercontinental Cup from 1960 to 2004 were recognized as world champions, when drawing up the list of awards. He clarified that in the years 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 “the competition was not played”, while in 2000 they registered Corinthians as champion, who won the first Club World Cup in history, a competition that was governed by FIFA and took place in Brazil the same year as the Boca-Real Madrid match held in Japan.

After hours of controversy, the mother body of world football itself corrected its mistake and published the final list, with the world titles not only of Boca, but also of the rest of the champions who were not on the list.

It is worth mentioning that the intercontinental champion titles had also not been recognized for Bayern Munich (for the final they won against Boca in 2001), Real Madrid (beat Olimpia of Paraguay in 2002) and Porto (defeated Once Caldas of Colombia ). In addition, they did mention that in the 1975 and 1978 editions the finals between Independiente-Bayern Munich and Boca-Liverpool, respectively, were not played. In this way, the only world title that FIFA recognized for Xeneize was that of the 1977 Intercontinental after the victory against Borussia Monchengladbach. Finally, Boca’s laurels from 2000 and 2003 are not only recognized by Conmebol and UEFA, but now also by FIFA.

“After a hiatus between 2001 and 2004, the competition returned in 2005 as the FIFA Club World Cup and continued to grow in scope, dimension and reputation, as it pitted the best teams from each continent against each other,” was the paragraph with which FIFA confirmed that it does not consider the successes of Boca and the aforementioned clubs in that period of time, just as it nullifies the remembered title of Carlos Bianchi’s team in Tokyo against Real Madrid.

The format of the 2000 Club World Cup that took place in Brazil was with two groups of four teams, a match for third place between the two runners-up from each zone and a final between the leaders of each zone. Those who qualified for this competition were the champions of the federations in the 1998 and 1999 seasons: Manchester United (Champions League champion in 98/99), Vasco da Gama (Libertadores 1998), Necaxa (Concacaf 1999), Al-Nassr de Saudi Arabia (1999 Asian Super Cup), Raja Casablanca of Morocco (1999 African Cup), South Melbourne of Australia (1999 Oceanic Cup), Corinthians (host) and Real Madrid (invited by FIFA and 1998 intercontinental champion).

Real Madrid and Corinthians tied 2-2 in San Pablo for the second day of Group A and it was the Brazilians who reached the final by having one more goal difference (both finished with 7 points). In Group B, Vasco swept, winning its three matches (beating Manchester United 3-1 with goals from Romário -2- and Edmundo) and qualified. The final was played on January 14, 2000 at the Maracaná stadium: it ended 0-0 and Timao won in the penalty shootout.

THE LIST OF WORLD CHAMPIONS PUBLISHED BY FIFA

1960: Real Madrid (ESP)

1961: Penarol (URU)

1962: Santos (BRA)

1963: Santos (BRA)

1964: Inter Milan (ITA)

1965: Inter Milan (ITA)

1966: Penarol (URU)

1967: Racing Club (ARG)

1968: Students (ARG)

1969: AC Milan (ITA)

1970: Feyenoord (PB)

1971: National (URU)

1972: Ajax (PB)

1973: Independent (ARG)

1974: Atlético de Madrid (ESP)

1975: There was none (the match between Bayern Munich and Independiente was not played)

1976: Bayern Munich (ALE)

1977: Boca Juniors (ARG)

1978: There was none (the match between Boca Juniors and Liverpool was not played)

1979: Olympia (PAR)

1980: National (URU)

1981: Flamengo (BRA)

1982: Penarol (URU)

1983: Grêmio (BRA)

1984: Independent (ARG)

1985: Juventus (ITA)

1986: River Plate (ARG)

1987: Porto (POR)

1988: National (URU)

1989: AC Milan (ITA)

1990: AC Milan (ITA)

1991: Red Star (YUG)

1992: São Paulo (BRA)

1993: São Paulo (BRA)

1994: Vélez Sarsfield (ARG)

1995: Ajax (PB)

1996: Juventus (ITA)

1997: Borussia Dortmund (ALE)

1998: Real Madrid (ESP)

1999: Manchester United (ING)

2000: Corinthians (BRA)

2000: Boca Juniors (ARG) – Winner of the Intercontinental Cup

2001: Bayern Munich (ALE)

2002: Real Madrid (ESP)

2003: Boca Juniors (ARG)

2004: Porto (POR)

2005: São Paulo (BRA)

2006: International (BRA)

2007: AC Milan (ITA)

2008: Manchester United (ING)

2009: Barcelona (ESP)

2010: Inter Milan (ITA)

2011: Barcelona (ESP)

2012: Corinthians (BRA)

2013: Bayern Munich (ALE)

2014: Real Madrid (ESP)

2015: Barcelona (ESP)

2016: Real Madrid (ESP)

2017: Real Madrid (ESP)

2018: Real Madrid (ESP)

2019: Liverpool (ING)

2020: Bayern Munich (ALE)

2021: Chelsea (ING)

2022: Real Madrid (ESP)

2023: Manchester City (ING)