FIFA says clubs must release players for Olympics

LONDON: FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Wednesday that clubs must release their eligible under-23 players for the Olympic soccer tournament despite the claims of Europe's leading clubs that they were under no obligation to do so.

FIFA, world soccer's governing body, and the European Club Association (ECA), the successor to the G14, which represents Europe's leading clubs, issued contradictory statements on Wednesday with FIFA reaffirming it was mandatory for clubs to release their players.

Blatter, in a letter to all FIFA members said: "The release of players below the age of 23 has always been mandatory for all clubs. The same principle applies for Beijing 2008."