Jeff Stelling Branded 'Ignorant' For His Comments On FIFA Club World Cup

Jeff Stelling has come in for criticism for his comments on the FIFA Club World Cup competition.

Chelsea beat Brazilian giants Palmeiras 2-1 this evening to become champions of the world.

But not for the first time, Stelling downplayed the competition, which is being held in Abu Dhabi this year.

"It's a nonsense"

Jeff Stelling on the Club World Cup. pic.twitter.com/MFiJVDyP6P

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 12, 2022

"Arsenal would have been playing Chelsea today but of course they play Palmeiras in the Club World Cup final. A great run to the final, beating Al-Hilal and.... oh, well, nobody else.

"It's not their fault, I'm not blaming Chelsea but the other teams are Al-Ahly, Monterrey, Al-Jazeera and Auckland City. It's a nonsense isn't it, let's be brutally honest.

"Nevertheless we're hoping Chelsea beat Palmeiras, who are the other good side in there."

Stelling's mini-rant caused a stir on social media, with fans feeling as though the Soccer Saturday host was being incredibly ignorant:

That's disrespectful tbh. It's the different Champions League winners playing each other so there's not exactly going to be 20 teams is there.

— ♦️ LFC4EVA♦️ (@LFC4EVA96) February 12, 2022

Yea very easy route to the final, you only have to win the Champions League and then the semi final, no big deal.

— Tafsir Sillah (@SillahTafsir) February 12, 2022

Wow the disrespect smh

— CFC DAVE ⭐️⭐️ (@CFCDAVE_) February 12, 2022

The British media’s snob towards certain international tournaments rearing it’s head again.

— Henry (@henryeccles121) February 12, 2022

Typical British pundits.

“It’s not important to us so it’s irrelevant.”

This trophy is viewed as the biggest in club football in South America, Asia and Africa.

Sky need to refresh their channel.
The current cast is out of touch with modern day football.

— Alexis’ Kavkas View 🇦🇿🇬🇪 (@AlexisIsKavkas) February 12, 2022

Point of this tournament is to experience football across the world. Football dont exist in England only. Few things in English football is nonsense but we dont mention them 🤷.

— krkycfc ✰✰ (@itschelseathing) February 12, 2022

Chelsea qualified for the Club World Cup after winning the Champions League for a second time with victory over Manchester City in Porto in the summer.

In their first Club World Cup appearance, the Blues were beaten 1-0 by a Brazilian side and CONMEBOL champions in Corinthians back in 2012.

Copa Libertadores winners Palmeiras have continued the Brazilian tradition of taking the tournament very seriously by bringing no less than 15,000 fans for the final.

Chelsea became the third English club to win the Club World Cup, following on from Manchester United in 2008 and Liverpool in 2019.

Kai Havertz had ice in his veins as he stepped up to convert a 117th minute penalty which crowned Chelsea champions of the world.

Chelsea have won the Club World Cup!

Kai Havertz's penalty in extra-time gave #CFC the win.

🎬 @C4Sportpic.twitter.com/OX9jjSKM12

— The Athletic UK (@TheAthleticUK) February 12, 2022