LONDON, July 23 (Reuters) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Wednesday that clubs must release their eligible Under-23 players for the Olympic soccer tournament despite the claims of Europe's leading clubs that they were under no obligation to do
so.
FIFA, world soccer's governing body, and the European Club
Association (ECA), the successor to the G14 which represents
Europe's leading clubs, issued contradictory statements on
Wednesday with FIFA reaffirming it was mandatory for clubs to
release their players.
Blatter, in a letter to all FIFA members said: 'The release
of players below the age of 23 has always been mandatory for all
clubs. The same principle applies for Beijing 2008.'
He added that the fact that the Beijing Olympics were not
included in the coordinated international match calendar did not
mean there was no release obligation for the relevant clubs.'
However, ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a
statement that there 'was no legal obligation' on clubs to
release their players for next month's Olympic tournament.
Rummenigge said: 'As the Olympics are not included in the
harmonised International Match Calendar, the obligation to
release players for national team matches according to the FIFA
Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players does not
apply.
'We, therefore, support all clubs that currently face losing
important players.'
Earlier this week, Brazil defender Rafinha absented himself
without leave from training with Schalke 04 in Germany after
they repeatedly refused to release him for the Games.
On Tuesday, Werder Bremen playmaker Diego defied orders from
his club and left Germany to join the Brazil squad, while the
Brazilian FA (CBF) criticised Real Madrid's decision to pull
Robinho out of the squad on Wednesday saying the timing of the
Spanish club's decision had disrupted their preparations.
Schalke 04 said on Wednesday they would take their dispute
with Rafinha to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, following
Werder Bremen's decision to do the same on Tuesday.
Schalke said they were taking the step after they received
no response by noon on Tuesday to letters of protest to the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Brazil federation
(CBF) sent a day earlier.
The disagreement over the status of the Olympic tournament
centres on the fact that the Games are not included in the
international match calendar.
FIFA says that the omission is an irrelevance and the
Olympic tournament is deliberately not included in the
international calendar.
In his letter Blatter added: 'Due to its unique character
the men's Olympic football tournament has always been
intentionally treated differently. However this does not mean
that there is no release obligation for the relevant clubs.'
The ECA takes a different view and said in its statement:
'The ECA suggests that FIFA president Sepp Blatter should define
clear guidelines and regulations in consultation with the IOC
regarding subsequent Olympic Games, once the current framework
for the Olympic football tournament expires.
'ECA would be happy to contribute to the development of
these future guidelines on behalf of the clubs.'
Schalke sporting director Andreas Mueller said on Wednesday:
'Even if Mr Blatter is president of FIFA, his remarks are still
purely arbitrary. It doesn't change our view. We'll wait for the
CAS ruling. FIFA is forcing clubs and players into breach of
contract.'
Werder Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs agreed, saying:
'As in previous letters from FIFA, president Blatter bases his
comments in principle on custom and practice, and the special
charter of the Olympic tournament. But in the view of our
federations, the DFB and the DFL, this letter has no binding
character whatsoever.'
Olympic squads can also include up to three players aged
over 23 in their squads, but their inclusion is not mandatory.
