Club World Cup: How Donald Trump Made Chelsea Lift ‘Fake’ Trophy After Beating PSG
- Chelsea were handed a replica trophy rather than the original one after they won the FIFA Club World Cup trophy
- U.S. president Donald Trump, who was the front and centre of the celebrations, revealed where the original trophy was
- The polarising American head of state was booed on his way to the stage to hand over the medals and trophy
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It has now emerged that Chelsea lifted a replica trophy of the FIFA Club World Cup at the MetLife Stadium on Sunday, July 13.
Source: Getty Images
U.S. president Donald Trump and his FIFA counterpart Gianni Infantino presented the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James after they beat Paris Saint-Germain in the final.
Trump was a common fixture during the celebrations and bizarrely refused to leave the podium after handing the trophy.
Videos and photos of James lifting the trophy as the 79-year-old stood by his side have been a major talking point online.
The 45th and 47th president of the United States has become good friends with Infantino, praising the Swiss football administrator for the work he is doing at the world governing body.
Trump will take centre stage once again next year as the FIFA World Cup will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The final will be held at the same venue where Chelsea lifted the maiden edition of the new competition.
Why Chelsea lifted a replica trophy
In an interview with DAZN, Trump revealed that the original trophy was in his office at the White House.
Infantino unveiled the new trophy at the White House shortly after Trump had been sworn back into office after beating Kamala Harris in last year's elections.
It has since emerged that the trophy never left the White House premises and FIFA created a new one which Chelsea lifted.
"I said, When are you going to pick up the trophy? [They said] ‘We’re never going to pick it up. You can have it forever in the Oval Office. We’re making a new one. And they actually made a new one. So that was quite exciting, but it is in the Oval Office right now."
Is Chelsea's trophy different from the one Trump has?
There are no known differences yet between the original trophy and the replica one Chelsea got. FIFA has yet to reveal whether Chelsea will be allowed to keep their trophy.
In UEFA competitions, the winning teams lift the original trophy but exchange it with the replica ones, which they take back home.
There are also strict rules that govern the trophy as stipulated in UEFA Article 11.
Did Donald Trump take Club World Cup medal?
The revelation came before he was spotted pocketing one of the gold medals. Infantino handed him the medal seemingly to look at, but the US leader was seen putting it inside his blazer.
Source: Getty Images
Fans have joked online that he took the medal meant for Noni Madueke. Madueke surprisingly bolted out of Chelsea's camp in New Jersey to seal a move to Arsenal just before the final.
The English international was spotted partying at Wireless with Jadon Sancho in north London as his soon-to-be former teammates lifted the trophy in the USA.
What next for Chelsea?
The Blues will now be chasing more success when the new season starts next month. They will be outside Premier League favourites after Arsenal, Manchester City and reigning champions Liverpool.
They will begin their campaign with four consecutive London derbies against Crystal Palace (H), West Ham (A), Fulham (H) and Brentford (A) before they play Manchester United.
The West Londoners are also back in the Champions League, where they will be in Pot 1 when the group stage is conducted.
How much will Chelsea players earn?
In a related report, Chelsea players are set to pocket handsome amounts of money in bonuses after winning the Club World Cup.
The club is set to share the sizeable prize money it will receive from FIFA with the 29-man squad Enzo Maresca had in the United States.
The Blues are also set to land a new shirt sponsor with their win in New Jersey increasing their value by over 20%.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
