Diego defies Werder orders, heads for Olympics

Diego defies Werder orders, heads for Olympics

Werder Bremen playmaker Diego defied orders from his Bundesliga club and left Germany on Tuesday to join Brazil's Olympic team, following the footsteps of Schalke 04 defender Rafinha who went absent without leave on Monday.

Werder Bremen sporting director Klaus Allofs announced the club would take action after repeatedly warning him he would not be released even though FIFA said clubs are obligated to release under-23 players for the Aug. 7-23 Olympics soccer tournament.

"We were unable to reach an agreement in a 90-minute meeting this morning," Werder said on its website (www.werder.de).

"Diego feels obliged to join Brazil's team in Paris. He fears not showing up would jeopardise his future career for Brazil."

Allofs, who believes clubs are not obligated to release players for the Olympics, said Werder was seeking intervention from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against Diego, 23.

"It's best for everyone involved to clear this up once and for all," Allofs was quoted telling sport news agency SID. "This kind of back-and-forth should never happen again."

Earlier, Schalke 04 said they were considering legal action against Rafinha for breach of contract after he left a training camp without permission to join Brazil's Olympic team.

Schalke sporting director Andreas Mueller was quoted saying the club would also ask CAS to intervene if Rafinha does not return to the Bundesliga side's training camp.

Rafinha, 22, went absent without leave from Schalke's training on Monday after Schalke refused to release him.

"He has breached his contract at Schalke," Mueller said, adding the club had sent letters to the Brazilian football association (CBF) and the International Olympic Committee demanding that Rafinha not be allowed to compete.

"If the CBF does not respect our wish, we'll file legal action at the CAS."

Mueller has said he had last spoken with Rafinha on the phone on Sunday and reiterated the club's position that he was not free to go to the Olympics. Rafinha told Mueller he would not be at training and was going to the Olympics.

The tournament, which features under-23 sides with three over-age players allowed in each team, has produced several other club-versus-country rows, including a battle between Argentina and Barcelona over Lionel Messi.

There are several other under-23 players in the Bundesliga who want to compete but whose clubs refused to release them.

Hamburg SV's Vincent Kompany, who plays for Belgium, has also tried in vain to get a release from his club.

Mueller, who according to media reports could fine Rafinha 25,000 euros per day, added it was not too late for his return.

"We hope that he changes his mind," Mueller said. "There won't be any further consequences for him if he returns by Wednesday or Thursday."