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Barcelona, German Teams Win Olympic Soccer Eligibility Appeal

By Dan Baynes

Aug. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Barcelona and German clubs Werder Bremen and Schalke 04 have ``no legal obligation'' to release players for the Olympic soccer tournament, the top sports tribunal ruled today.

The teams had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after world soccer governing body FIFA said last week they must allow players under 23 years of age to go to the Olympics if selected.

The court ruled that the clubs weren't legally bound to release players because the Olympic tournament isn't part of FIFA's calendar that divides the year into periods for international soccer and club competitions.

The Lausanne, Switzerland-based court, in its ruling, called on the parties to ``find a reasonable solution with regard to players who wish to represent their country in the Olympic Games.''

Barcelona had objected to 21-year-old playmaker Lionel Messi representing defending champion Argentina. Werder Bremen and Schalke didn't want Diego, 23, and Rafinha, 22, to play for Brazil. The Brazilians had already defied club orders by joining up with their Olympic squad.

``FIFA is surprised and disappointed by this decision, but we respect it,'' FIFA President Sepp Blatter said in a statement today. ``Nevertheless, I appeal to the clubs: Let your players take part in the Olympic Games! It would be an act of solidarity in perfect harmony with the Olympic spirit.''

The men's soccer tournament starts tomorrow, a day before the opening ceremony, with the final scheduled for Aug. 23. Sixteen teams will take part. Barcelona and Schalke are scheduled to play qualifying matches in Europe's elite Champions League from Aug. 12. The Bundesliga starts three days later.