Western Sydney players have questioned whether FIFA would have let star-studded Real Madrid play in the dangerous conditions they were forced to endure at the Club World Cup in Morocco.
And they're likely to find out soon enough, with pitch safety concerns surrounding the European champions' opening match of the tournament in Rabat on Tuesday.
The Wanderers lost 3-1 to Mexican side Cruz Azul on Saturday in a match that went ahead despite heavy rain rendering the already sub-standard surface at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium close to unplayable.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez and the rest of Real Madrid's millions of dollars of talent arrive on Sunday and are due to play at the same venue in Tuesday's semi-final against Cruz Azul.
Rain is forecast to continue over the next two days and the Mexican side's captain Gerardo Torrado admits he has concerns about the fixture.
"Hopefully they have the ability to make it recover but we have to be realistic, there is very little time," Torrado said.
"Let us hope the rain stops so we can have a good game in two days from now."
A host of Wanderers players said the match should not have gone ahead in the conditions, with centre back Matthew Spiranovic questioning what would have happened if the tournament favourites were involved.
"I don't know what the criteria is from FIFA, but it's questionable whether, if Real Madrid were playing tonight, the game would have continued," Spiranovic said.
"It was the same for both teams but I don't think I've played in conditions as bad as that in my whole career.
"It was dangerous."
Defender Shannon Cole said it was the "easiest thing for FIFA" to let the game go on.
"You see those get called off all the time," he said.
Real Madrid are set to arrive in the Moroccan capital to much fanfare with reports suggesting the side will be escorted by as many as 40 security guards, including five dedicated to the world's best player Ronaldo.
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