The saga surrounding the presence of Lionel Messi, Diego and Rafinha in the Olympic soccer rocambolesco took a twist yesterday when the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in favour of clubs in its dispute with the International Football Federation (FIF), and act followed two institutions were reluctant to cede their players changed their minds and authorized his participation in the tournament for Beijing 2008.
Shortly after the court ruling known (TAS) in favour of Barcelona, Werder Bremen and Schalke, the German club changed its position and authorized Diego and Rafinha to play with the selection of Brazil.
Not yet know the position of Barcelona, which militates Argentine Messi, but the technician albiceleste Sergio Batista said that the striker will play on Thursday before Ivory Coast at the start of the soccer tournament.
The highest sports court noted that there is no statute requiring clubs to cede their players younger than 23 years to play in the Olympics.
The teams are on the right to ask their players to return to Europe, said yesterday at a press conference the secretary-general of TAS, Mathieu Reeb.
The TAS said in its ruling that the Olympic tournament is not included in the calendar coordinated international matches and there is a specific decision of the executive committee of Fifa to establish the obligation of clubs to release players younger than 23 years.
The tournament is reserved for players aged 23 or less. Messi, Diego and Rafinha meet that requirement, but their clubs refused to assign.
The FIF issued a verdict forcing them to release them, and then the clubs went to TAS.
Werder Bremen said feel vindicated by the verdict, but his technical Klaus Allofs said that because of the legal dispute, the team's preparation for the new season was made largely without Diego and is so advanced that it makes little sense to bring this to Germany height.
"We are pleased that the TAS has confirmed our legal interpretation," added the coach of Schalke, Andreas Mueller. "It is clearly stipulated in the statutes of Fifa," he said.
Mueller argued that "there are no winners here, because it created an impossible situation as a result of the delay in resolving the matter. Five minutes before the start of the tournament we have to decide whether to bring back a player or not.
"Our decision would have been very different if the legal position had been clarified earlier. In that case, Mueller said, we would not have allowed Rafinha travel under any circumstances. "
"The FIF is surprised and disappointed by the decision but we respect," said its president Joseph Blatter, according to a press release. "However, I ask clubs: Let your players participating in the Olympic Games.
"It would be an act of solidarity that would harmonize perfectly with the Olympic spirit. It would be wonderful for both the players and for fans and the sport itself, "added Blatter.
Meanwhile, the executive director of the Games, Gilbert Felli, regretted the decision of CAS and noted that the IOC and Fifa will seek ways to prevent something similar happening in future Olympics.
"Relations between the Fifa and the clubs are not as good as they should and it seems that there was a lack of clarification on both sides. Now we will work with the Fifa rules to help athletes (in future) to participate in the Olympic Games, "said Felli.
