A FIFA-appointed judge has confirmed clubs are obliged to release players aged
23 and under for next month's Olympics football tournament in Beijing.
A statement issued by world football's governing body FIFA today confirmed the
judge of the Players' Status Committee, Slim Aloulou, agreed with FIFA's
previous ruling that it was 'mandatory' for players to be released for Olympic
duty.
The judge was called to rule on the matter after Werder Bremen, Schalke and
Barcelona questioned FIFA's stance as the Olympics do not appear on FIFA's
official calendar.
Bremen and Schalke are unhappy with the inclusions of Diego and Rafinha,
respectively, in the Brazil squad, while Barca are trying to prevent star
forward Lionel Messi joining up with Argentina.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport will now have the final say on the matter
after Bremen and Schalke filed complaints, with Barca having indicated they will
do likewise.
A statement issued by FIFA read: 'The single judge of the Players' Status
Committee, Slim Aloulou (Tunisia), decided today, 30 July 2008, that the release
of players under the age of 23 for the Men's Olympic Football Tournament Beijing
2008 is mandatory for all clubs. Previously, on 29 July 2008, the FIFA Emergency
Committee also took a decision in the same sense.
'The decision of the single judge was taken after FIFA had received requests
from the German football association on behalf of its affiliate club FC Schalke
04, as well as from SV Werder Bremen, FC Schalke 04 and Spanish club FC
Barcelona directly, in connection with the release of their players under the
age of 23 for the Men's Olympic Football Tournament.
'The single judge, while referring to the situation of the players belonging
to the clubs in question, deemed that he should address the question of the
release of all players under the age of 23 for that competition.
'The single judge determined that the international match calendar is not of
relevance in establishing whether clubs are obliged to release players for the
Men's Olympic Football Tournament.'
The statement added: 'The single judge stated that taking part in the Olympic Games is a unique opportunity for all athletes of any sporting discipline, and that it would not be justifiable to prevent any player younger than 23 from participating in such an event if his representative team had qualified.'
CAS revealed last week it was to put the appeals of Bremen and Schalke 'on standby' until the outcome of the FIFA judgment had been made public.
The body will now convene in the coming days with the Olympic football tournament due to get under way on August 7.
