Valencia lodge objection to plans for Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, warning of 'possible illegality'

They are the first club to publicly announce their disapproval of the new format

The Mestalla club have released a statement detailing their opposition to proposals (Getty)

Valencia have lodged their objection to the proposed changes to the format of the Spanish Super Cup, warning the Spanish FA (RFEF) of the “possible illegality” of their plans for expansion.

The new format would see the traditional two-team competition enlarged to allow a further two sides to compete, a move which has drawn severe disapproval from La Liga in the ongoing war between Spain's top flight and its national football federation.

Reports emerged this week that the RFEF was in negotiations with Saudi Arabia over hosting the annual mini-tournament in a deal worth £150m.

The new-look competition, which is set to start in January 2020, would include La Liga’s top two alongside the Copa del Rey finalists, but Valencia believe this would be an unlawful alteration and have threatened legal action if the plan is given the go-ahead.

A statement on the club’s website said: “Valencia CF have sent a message to the Spanish Federation warning them of the ‘possible illegal nature of altering the competition in question in the current season’ and that the club ‘reserve the right to take the relevant legal action in defence of our legitimate rights and interests, should the case reach the extreme point of being approved.”

On occasions where at least one team fulfil both criteria, qualification for the Super Cup would be handed to the next team eligible through league position.

However, the Spanish club also hinted at legal action by including in the statemen the current RFEF ruling from July 2018, which states the competing clubs are “the clubs who have won the previous season’s La Liga title and the Copa del Rey.

“If the same club wins both the league and the cup, the Supercopa will be between the La Liga champions and the runners-up in the Copa del Rey.”

A general meeting will vote on Monday whether this change in format will be implemented from the 2019/20 season onwards, which would only heighten the tension emanating from the latest rift between the RFEF and La Liga.

The two bodies have clashed constantly over a sustained period of time, the most high-profile of which saw the Spanish FA move to try and block La Liga’s attempts to see Barcelona face Girona in Miami.

The RFEF have also recently been in negotiations to take the expanded competition to Saudi Arabia, which could result in an astronomical €180m deal over six years.

The Middle East country has already agreed a deal to bring Italy's Super Cup to the kingdom, with the first of three finals contracted to be played there taking place in Jeddah back in January.