The first flat-earth believers’ soccer club in the world dreams with Champions League

How many times did you hear about ‘the flat earth’? It was reasonably to discuss that many centuries ago, but in 2021, with scientists, history books and airlines around the globe, people still try to discuss that. Some of those people are even funny to hear, but some others turn aggressive. There is a mid-way point: a new soccer club.

The Flat Earth FC is playing in the Spanish Tercera División, and its president, Javi Poves, who played for Sporting Gijón, usually tends to participate in international gatherings of people who still think the earth is flat… yes, just like you read it. He was one of the main speakers of that event, celebrated a year ago in Madrid.

The club was founded in 2016 under the name of Móstoles Balompié. (Balompié is the old name soccer -now ‘fútbol’- had in Spanish over a century ago). After starting in the regional leagues of Madrid they earned the promotion to the third division, led by Poves, in 2019-2020 season. It was then when the president announced the new name and philosophy, if we can call it that way.

Poves dreams to move up: the Tercera División, despite it means ‘third division’, is the fourth tier in Spain under LA Liga, Segunda División and Segunda División B. He wants his extravagant team to reach the UEFA Champions League. Just to mention, Diego Maradona’s coach in the 1994 World Cup, Alfio Basile, declared himself a follower of this crazy theory.