FIFA: Messi Can Play

July 30th, 2008 | By: Christian | 3 Comments »

Today, FIFA released the following statement:

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.

In this regard, in view of the longstanding and undisputed practice (since 1988, clubs have always accepted the release of under-23 players for the competition), he deemed that recourse to customary law is justified. The FIFA Emergency Committee also mentioned this principle in its decision.

In addition, the single judge took into account the decision of the FIFA Emergency Committee, which recalled that in 1988, the FIFA Congress had determined that all players up to the age of 23 were eligible to play in the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament. The FIFA Emergency Committee also stated that the same principle had been confirmed at the FIFA Congress in 2006.

Finally, 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.

The decision was notified to the parties today, 30 July 2008.

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Comments

By SAL | July 30th, 2008 at 11:14 am

well christian sorry for what i called you in my last post, i enjoy reading all thats posted in this blog by the regular posters (i respect them all) and suddenly you find the flow in a mess due to some insects (ken=john) it gets very irritating. i apologize again & please keep the blog safe from those *******

By Christian | July 30th, 2008 at 11:22 am

Haha SAL, no worries. The blog will be updated more regularly from now on.

Posted from United States

By Vick | July 31st, 2008 at 6:14 am

Hi all,

How is everybody doing? Seems like lots has happened in the last few weeks! And lots of misbehaving and wedgies eh? Vick’s back to take care of the mess. I had posted the following under a diff topic, but am taking the liberty to post it here in order to generate some discussion and opinions/critiques:

This is unnecessary controversy before the the start of the olympics! Messi in the team will be a HUGE boost, and I hope the situation gets cleared fast. I like barca for the football they play, but this sort of thing exactly shows why economics rule everything else in football these days.

I’d also like to give a shout-out to my man Carlitos Tevez.

Over the last few months , I’ve seen lots of debates and discussions on the future of the NT, and our quest to fill the 2nd striker’s position. I really hope that along with cavegol, aguero etc , Tevez gets considered. I agree that while he lacks the height and perhaps the physique that we require in an ideal No. 11, he has 2 other things that are rare commodities - HEART and a WINNER’S Mentality.

1. Tevez never quits. Just 2 seasons back, he was perhaps the only reason why West Ham still played top flight football last season. Masche was very lucky to get out of West Ham, but Tevez had to stay on. Not once did he crib or brood about it. He had his head up and got them out of the $hithole.

2. He scores goals when it matters, a fact that has been highlighted in the last season in Man U, and something acknowledged by Alex Ferguson himself.

3. As much as I hate Man U as a club (and trust me, I’m foaming at my mouth when i type that club’s name) , I have to admit that they are a bunch of winners. There, I said it. They get it done somehow. Tevez has much of the same attitude. It just shows.

4. He combines well with the top players even when everybody doubted it. Hell, he managed to combine seamlessly with Rooney, Ronaldo, and the likes. I don’t see any reason why he won’t be able to combine with Messi, Aguero, Riquelme, or anyone else for that matter. He puts his ego aside for the rest of our team. A good manager will be able to adjust his schemes well enough to get the winning team.

5. Tevez spells success. Look it up in the oxford dictionary. OK, I’m kidding. But think about it, Argentina, Brazil, and now EPL. The MAN just goes about doing his business.

6. He may not have blistering pace, but he’s very well balanced, plays off both feet, has good vision, neat goal scoring and poaching instincts. He is an asset. $hit if JULIO CRUZ can find a starting spot- why can’t TEVEZ?? Julio Cruz wont be able to score even if he ’s THE ONLY man in a whole galaxy of a gazillion horny chicks.

Alright, now that I’m done with my rant, I can go back to my medication.

Posted from India