The president of Fifa, Joseph Blatter, said yesterday that clubs must make their players younger than 23 attend the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Jerarca's position contradicts the claim of major European teams, who claim that they are not obliged to do so.
This contradiction became clear in two bulletins sent by the Fifa and the European Association of Clubs (RCT, for its acronym in English), successor of the G-14.
"The release of players younger than 23 years has always been compulsory. The same principle applies for Beijing 2008, "Blatter said in a letter sent to all the members of Fifa.
The Swiss added that the fact that the Games in Beijing were not included in the international calendar did not eliminate the rule.
Opposition. The president of ACE, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement that there was no legal liability for clubs to give up their footballers.
"As the Games are not in the calendar, the obligation to release players, according to the regulations of Fifa does not apply," said Rummenigge. "We support, therefore, to all clubs facing significant losses," he said.
But Fifa downplay the issue of timing. "Because of their uniqueness, the soccer tournament at the Olympic Games has always been treated any differently intentionally. However, this does not mean that here there is no obligation for clubs, "said Blatter.
The conflict has suspended the participation of stars such as Argentine Lionel Messi. The star receives pressure from the Argentine football associations to be incorporated in the albiceleste, and on the other hand faces the demands of his team, Barcelona, not to do so.
Messi's father stoked the issue by stating that the desire of his son is playing in Beijing with the Selection
The president of Fifa, Joseph Blatter, said yesterday that clubs must make their players younger than 23 attend the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Jerarca's position contradicts the claim of major European teams, who claim that they are not obliged to do so.
This contradiction became clear in two bulletins sent by the Fifa and the European Association of Clubs (RCT, for its acronym in English), successor of the G-14.
"The release of players younger than 23 years has always been compulsory. The same principle applies for Beijing 2008, "Blatter said in a letter sent to all the members of Fifa.
The Swiss added that the fact that the Games in Beijing were not included in the international calendar did not eliminate the rule.
Opposition. The president of ACE, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement that there was no legal liability for clubs to give up their footballers.
"As the Games are not in the calendar, the obligation to release players, according to the regulations of Fifa does not apply," said Rummenigge. "We support, therefore, to all clubs facing significant losses," he said.
But Fifa downplay the issue of timing. "Because of their uniqueness, the soccer tournament at the Olympic Games has always been treated any differently intentionally. However, this does not mean that here there is no obligation for clubs, "said Blatter.
The conflict has suspended the participation of stars such as Argentine Lionel Messi. The star receives pressure from the Argentine football associations to be incorporated in the albiceleste, and on the other hand faces the demands of his team, Barcelona, not to do so.
Messi's father stoked the issue by stating that the desire of his son is playing in Beijing with the Selection.
