Morales forces FIFA to rethink altitude ban
ZURICH: FIFA president Sepp Blatter is to reconsider a ban on high altitude soccer matches following a meeting yesterday with Bolivian President Evo Morales.
"I am going to reconsider this decision," Blatter said less than 24 hours after announcing FIFA would raise its controversial altitude limit from 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) above sea level to 3,000 meters (9,800 feet).
Blatter, who spent around 40 minutes discussing the issue with Morales, said he would summon an emergency committee and announce a final decision sometime next week.
The emergency committee consists of Blatter as FIFA president and the presidents of FIFA's six continental confederations including Nicolas Leoz of Paraguay, the president of CONMEBOL, the South American confederation and the one most affected by the ruling.
Morales has led a vigorous campaign against the FIFA altitude ban, which threatens to outlaw World Cup qualifiers in Bolivia's capital La Paz, situated at 3,600 meters (11,800 feet) above sea level.
"It was a very enlightening get-together," Blatter told reporters at an informal gathering afterwards.
"We spoke about the value of football in the integration of society and Mr Morales explained to me why it is so important that they can play in the capital."
FIFA introduced its original 2,500 metres ban in May following concerns expressed by its medical committee over the health of visiting players and over possible unfair advantages for the home side.
On Wednesday the executive raised the ceiling a further 500 meters following protests from several South American nations and CONMEBOL.
Explaining Wednesday's change Blatter said that FIFA's medical commission had permitted "a margin concerning the medical issues and that with a specific tolerance limit we could go up to under 3,000 meters."
Blatter insisted though that the social implications of the altitude ban should take priority.
Agencies
(China Daily 06/29/2007 page23)
