Changes in Copa del Rey competition

The cup competition has never been taken seriously in Spain, but this year it seems to be a complete farce after the Federation and the LFP agreed to change the format with the tournament already underway. The two bodies have been at loggerheads all summer, and were finally called together this week by the minister for sports after several issues (including a referees' strike) threatened to delay the start of the season. The new format means that first division clubs will enter at a later stage, and next week's first round will now only involve 20 second division A sides, with the smaller clubs who made it through the qualifying rounds playing the winners of those matches in a new second round. Eleven first division clubs will enter at the third round, and the nine clubs playing in European competitions join in the round after that. Needless to say the smaller sides are livid, and although compensation is being offered, several are thinking of taking legal action or pulling out of the competition entirely. (26.08.05)