Club vs Country (Olympics)

[TBM]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympic ... 518008.stm

Barcelona have won their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to keep Argentina's Lionel Messi out of the Olympic football tournament.

Do you agree that clubs should be allowed to stop their players going to the Olympics or do you think the country has the right to take whoever they feel?

[TheMaraudingDog]

As the Olympics isn't part of the FIFA calendar then it should be the club that have the final say.

[TBM]

As the Olympics isn't part of the FIFA calendar then it should be the club that have the final say.

Do you think it should be part of the FIFA calendar though or is it really just a mickey mouse tournament?!

[cmonurz]

From a football perspective, have to agree with TMD, although I notice United haven't exercised the same regarding Anderson.

Has to be disappointing from the players' perspective though, but if they demand £100,000 a week to play football, they have to expect their club to control where and when they play.

[TheMaraudingDog]

From a football perspective, have to agree with TMD, although I notice United haven't exercised the same regarding Anderson.

Has to be disappointing from the players' perspective though, but if they demand £100,000 a week to play football, they have to expect their club to control where and when they play.

Anderson expressed a wish to play and United agreed. I wonder though if
a) United have the right not to pay the player as he's effectivley taking an extra break to all the other players
b) If United do have the right if they have compramised with him in some way.

[papereyes]

As the Olympics isn't part of the FIFA calendar then it should be the club that have the final say.

I thought it effectively was now, acting as an U-23 tournament.

[cmonurz]

It's a little like the cricket/ICL situation. Players going to the Olympics are taking part in tournaments not sanctioned by FIFA, so I guess clubs would be within their rights to withhold pay, maybe? If they wanted to?

Tbh I'm sure in most club's case this isn't an issue. I'm surprised at Barcelona, tbh, all things considered.

[TBM]

As the Olympics isn't part of the FIFA calendar then it should be the club that have the final say.

I thought it effectively was now, acting as an U-23 tournament.

Not according to CAS

[From Despair To Where?]

I know it's an U23's tournament but I'm pretty sure there used to be a ruling that stated that any player who had appeared in the World Cup finals was ineligible for the Olympics on the grounds that it's sanctioned by the IOC rather than FIFA.

[Bill Oddie's Beard]

Barce have let him stay out there cos he wants to play.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 41,00.html

[papereyes]

I know it's an U23's tournament but I'm pretty sure there used to be a ruling that stated that any player who had appeared in the World Cup finals was ineligible for the Olympics on the grounds that it's sanctioned by the IOC rather than FIFA.

That was, to my knowledge, removed for either the '84 or '88 Games.

As I said, I think it is now a semi-offical U-23 tournament.

[Royal Lady]

I thought, much like boxers, that if you became professional you couldn't compete in the Olympics. This should apply to the football teams for definite imho.

[Southbank Old Boy]

I thought, much like boxers, that if you became professional you couldn't compete in the Olympics. This should apply to the football teams for definite imho.

It seems the amateur side of the Olympics died many years ago. Not sure how some sports get away with it and some dont though.

I think the country shoul dhave the right to call on the players even if the Olmypics isn't held in the highest of regards in the football world.

[papereyes]

The thing is that it is in some parts of the world. Certainly South America and certainly Africa.

The scepticism we show towards it is basically because we (as in all 4 home nations) don't compete in it.

[Royalee]

Club, the Olympics are a waste of time and nobody cares. Clubs pay the players' wages and club football is far more entertaining than Olympic football. As far as I'm concerned, Olympic football should be banned.

[Wax Jacket]

why the hell are super-annuated sports like football and tennis part of the Olympics anyway (that question answers itself, I know)?

Olympics isn't about watching Ronaldinho and Federer, it's the day in the sun for lesser lights