Maresca Questions Club World Cup Host Choice After "Joke" Weather Delays

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has raised questions about the United States' suitability as host for the Club World Cup, describing the two-hour weather delay during his team's round-of-16 victory over Benfica as "a joke."

The Blues secured a quarterfinal match against Palmeiras with a 4-1 extra-time win, in a game marked by the competition's second-longest weather-related suspension.

Reece James had put Chelsea ahead with a 64th-minute free kick when Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic halted play due to nearby lightning with just four minutes remaining in regulation time.

After the game resumed – with a significant portion of the 25,929 spectators having already departed – Benfica was awarded a penalty in stoppage time for a handball by Malo Gusto. Ángel Di María converted the penalty, sending the match into extra time.

Following a 92nd-minute red card for Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni, Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall all scored in extra time. However, Maresca remained frustrated by the logistical challenges the delay presented.

Saturday's game marked the sixth Club World Cup match to be affected by weather delays.

"We didn't concede anything; we created enough chances to win the game," Maresca told reporters.

"And then after the break, the game changed completely. I think, personally, it's not football. There have already been seven, eight, nine games suspended. I think it's a joke, to be honest; it's not football. It's not for us. You can't be inside [for so long]."

"It's completely something new, but I struggle to understand. I can understand that, for security reasons, you have to suspend the game. But if you suspend seven, eight games, that probably means it's not the right place to do this competition."

When asked if the frequent stoppages were detrimental to the competition, Maresca responded: "Please, don't misunderstand me. I said it's a fantastic competition. It's a Club World Cup. It's top. We are happy to be in the last eight. We are happy to win all these kinds of things."

"But something happens – six, seven games suspended – probably the ones who make the decisions need a reason, because it's not normal to suspend a game. In a World Cup, how many games are suspended? Zero, probably. In Europe, how many games? Zero."

"We are here for two weeks, and they've already suspended six, seven games. There is some problem, for me personally."

"But I'm talking as a manager, because when you are inside for two hours, you try to keep them in the game, but for two hours they are speaking with their families outside for safety reasons. They are eating something, they are playing, they are laughing. How can you keep them focused for two hours inside? It's a joke."

"That's why I said it. Then we are happy. We are happy to be here. We are happy to be in this competition. But it's something that is not normal."