BARCA WANT MESSI TO MISS OLYMPICS
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola hopes FIFA will back the Catalan club's campaign to prevent Lionel Messi playing in the Beijing Olympics.
The Argentinian Football Association (AFA) announced their squad at the beginning of July and included the Barca forward.
However, the Games clash with the dates of the Champions League preliminary round which is why Barca are desperate to hold on to Messi.
With the wrangle over the Argentina star continuing, Messi returned to pre-season training on today, four days earlier than planned.
"We brought forward his arrival and now we are waiting for a statement from FIFA," said Guardiola.
"We are defending that which we think is right, and if they say we are correct, Leo will stay.
"If is doesn't turn out like that, he will have to go to the Games."
Barca's chances of preventing Messi from playing in Beijing appear slim. The player himself has said he wants to represent his country, while FIFA's rules stipulate that players under the age of 23 must be released from their clubs for the Olympics.
FIFA moved to clarify their position on the Olympics last week, issuing a statement that said all players 23 and under must be released.
"In view of the importance of the Olympic Tournament for the entire sporting movement in general and football in particular, as well as on the basis of customary law, the release of players younger than 23 has always been mandatory for all clubs. For Beijing 2008 the same principle shall apply.
"This is not a new position and the regulations have not changed."
Barcelona, meanwhile, are also trying to prevent Ronaldinho from playing. As the playmaker is aged 28, they have a right not to release him, but the player himself remains adamant he intends to play having been named in the Brazil squad.
By the time the Olympics begin, it may no longer be Barca's problem as Ronaldinho is up for sale and a move to either AC Milan or Manchester City could be completed this week.
The Argentinian Football Association (AFA) announced their squad at the beginning of July and included the Barca forward.
However, the Games clash with the dates of the Champions League preliminary round which is why Barca are desperate to hold on to Messi.
With the wrangle over the Argentina star continuing, Messi returned to pre-season training on today, four days earlier than planned.
"We brought forward his arrival and now we are waiting for a statement from FIFA," said Guardiola.
"We are defending that which we think is right, and if they say we are correct, Leo will stay.
"If is doesn't turn out like that, he will have to go to the Games."
Barca's chances of preventing Messi from playing in Beijing appear slim. The player himself has said he wants to represent his country, while FIFA's rules stipulate that players under the age of 23 must be released from their clubs for the Olympics.
FIFA moved to clarify their position on the Olympics last week, issuing a statement that said all players 23 and under must be released.
"In view of the importance of the Olympic Tournament for the entire sporting movement in general and football in particular, as well as on the basis of customary law, the release of players younger than 23 has always been mandatory for all clubs. For Beijing 2008 the same principle shall apply.
"This is not a new position and the regulations have not changed."
Barcelona, meanwhile, are also trying to prevent Ronaldinho from playing. As the playmaker is aged 28, they have a right not to release him, but the player himself remains adamant he intends to play having been named in the Brazil squad.
By the time the Olympics begin, it may no longer be Barca's problem as Ronaldinho is up for sale and a move to either AC Milan or Manchester City could be completed this week.
FIFA Expects Barca to Release Messi
BARCELONA, Spain, July 15--FIFA expects FC Barcelona to release Lionel Messi so he can play for Argentina at next month's Olympics.The Barcelona winger returned for preseason training on Tuesday still awaiting a decision on whether he will suit up for the Spanish club's Champions League matches or play at the Beijing Games.Messi returned earlier than his Saturday due date to meet coach Pep Guardiola, who had said the club would not release Messi or Brazil midfielder Ronaldinho for the Olympics unless ordered to by FIFA."We moved his arrival date forward and now we're waiting on the communication from FIFA,'' Guardiola said. "We're defending what we believe is fair and, if they confirm, Leo will stay. If not, he'll have to go to the games.''Barcelona is counting on the 21-year-old Messi to suit up for its Champions League qualifying matches on Aug. 12 and 27.FIFA said Tuesday that it hadn't received any communique from Barcelona and expected the Catalan club to adhere to the principles of its rules, which state that all clubs must release players who are under the age of 23 for the games."The release of players has always been mandatory. So for Beijing the same principles apply,'' FIFA said. "We won't make any exceptions for Barcelona.''Ronaldinho's Olympics case may not be Barcelona's problem should a reported move to AC Milan or Manchester City goes through, though the two-time FIFA Player of the Year will return to Barcelona if a deal with either of those clubs is not reached by Thursday.Spanish media reported Tuesday that Milan -- Ronaldinho's preferred destination -- was 5 million (US$8 million) short of clinching the 28-year-old midfielder's signing, with a 15 million (US$24 million) offer on the table.
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July 16, 2008 at 2:53 AM
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