FIFA says young footballers should be released for Beijing 2008

(BEIJING, July 14) -- The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) recently announced on its official website that the release of young footballers by football clubs for the Olympic tournament is "obligatory".

The statement came after a couple of recent cases where clubs refused to release their footballers for Beijing 2008.

The statement also said "The release of players younger than 23 for the Olympic Football Tournament has been accepted by all clubs since 1992. For Beijing 2008, the same principle shall apply," which clarifies the obligation of clubs to release players who are under 23 for the Olympics.

At the same time, the statement admitted that " the release of players who are over 23 is not compulsory", On the other hand, it expressed FIFA 's standpoint over the issue: "the FIFA Executive Committee, during its meeting on March 14, made an appeal to the solidarity of the clubs in order to release these players."