Champions League club forced to change name and adopt new badge by Fifa as announcement made
A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE club has been forced to change their name and adopt a new badge by Fifa.
The world’s governing football body today announced details for next summer’s first 32-team Club World Cup.
The historic tournament sees English duo Chelsea and Manchester City join a host of other top names in Thursday’s draw.
Taking place in Miami, Chelsea could be drawn against giants like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain.
While City risk landing tricky sides including Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.
But Pep Guardiola’s defending champs could end up playing a side boasting a brand new name and badge.
Austrian giants RB Salzburg are now officially being called FC Salzburg by Fifa.
The decision mirrors one taken by Uefa earlier this season, allowing them to compete in the Champions League.
FC Salzburg are owned by energy drink giants Red Bull, as are German side RB Leipzig.
But with both sides competing in the same competition, Salzburg were forced to undergo an official name change to avoid a conflict of interest.
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And Fifa have continued in Uefa’s footsteps by also making Salzburg drop their RB tag.
Indeed, the Austrian team’s badge has also changed.
Their club badge has been tweaked to show just one bull[/caption]
Before it used to show two bulls competing under the words ‘Red Bull’.
But the wording has now been modified to just ‘FC’, while one of the bulls has been removed completely.
All eyes will now be on Thursday’s draw, which takes place in Miami.
Next summer’s tournament will be played in the USA and runs between June 15 and July 13.
Club World Cup draw pots
POT 1
- Man City
- Real Madrid
- Bayern Munich
- PSG
- Flamengo
- Palmeiras
- River Plate
- Fluminense
POT 2
- Chelsea
- Borussia Dortmund
- Inter Milan
- Porto
- Atletico Madrid
- Benfica
- Juventus
- FC Salzburg
POT 3
- Al Hilal
- Ulsan HD
- Al Ahly
- Wydad AC
- CF Monterrey
- Club Leon
- Boca Juniors
- Botafogo
POT 4
- Urawa Red Diamonds
- Al Ain
- Esperance Sportive de Tunisie
- Mamelodi Sundowns
- CF Pachuca
- Seattle Sounders
- Auckland City
- Inter Miami
