World NewsMessi To Learn Olympic Fate |
THE Olyroos are poised to learn whether they will face Lionel Messi in Beijing with a final decision on the Barcelona striker's participation set to be made on Tuesday.
A final decision on Barcelona striker Lionel Messi's participation in the Olympic Games is set to be made on Tuesday.A club versus country row has arisen as Argentina want the 21-year-old to play in the Games, while Barcelona want the striker to feature in a UEFA Champions League qualifier.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter waded into the debate on Wednesday, saying that clubs must release eligible Under-23 players for next month's Olympics.
But Barcelona say they will only release Messi if they are threatened by Fifa sanctions and they want a ruling on the matter.
The club's sporting director Txiki Begiristain said the circular received by Barcelona made no reference to any punishment.
"The Fifa circular doesn't oblige us to do anything," Begiristain said on Thursday.
"There is no talk in it about sanctions or punishment for the club, only about the Olympic spirit. But there is nothing else new in it, so it is our understanding that everything else remains the same."
He added: "We understand the importance of the Games but Fifa and the AFA (Argentine Football Association) need to understand the importance of the Champions League."
The AFA have said they expect Fifa to make a final decision over the matter on Tuesday.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola wants Blatter to make an immediate decision on the matter.
"Blatter has to decide now because Leo is being affected," he said. "He should decide if he goes to Beijing or stays with us and then the case should be closed because the lad has to focus on what he is doing."
Messi's father Jorge, meanwhile, has re-iterated his son's desire to feature at the Games.
He told Barcelona sports daily El Mundo Deportivo: "I told the club two months ago about Leo's intentions and the club knew he wanted to attend the Games.
"Leo was really keen to go because wearing the blue and white is a wonderful thing. The club told me that of course he could go to the Games."
He added: "What happened is that this Champions League qualifier came up and the club is now doing what any club in the world would do."
But Messi senior believed that Barcelona should abide by Fifa regulations.
"If FIFA regulations say he should go then he should go, if FIFA says he should stay then he should stay," he said.
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