The Olympic football tournament, primarily for under-23 players, was left off the international match calendar but FIFA now insists compulsory release is covered by existing rules that state "a duty to release players exists on the basis of a special decision by the FIFA Executive Committee".

The latest ruling was made at last week's FIFA Executive Committee meeting in Zurich but given hardly any publicity because of the focus on Swiss anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth's eagerly anticipated report.

But it will take centre stage at a board meeting of the 200-strong European Club Association (ECA) in Munich on Thursday (April 12) next week and seems certain to prompt an angry response from the organisation's top brass.

"I must say it came as a complete shock," ECA vice-chairman Umberto Gandini (pictured) told insidethegames.

"In fact we were astonished.

"The fact is that the Olympics has never been part of the international calendar, therefore release has never been compulsory."


Gandini, operations director at AC Milan, revealed that ECA chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (pictured right), who has been at pains to bring about a more conciliatory relationship with FIFA after months of bitter disagreement, attended a recent FIFA strategy meeting at which the under-23 issue never arose.

"There was no mention of it at all," Gandini said.

"Maybe this is a signal.

"On the one side, they talk about transparency and give us satisfaction on the international calendar, then they stick in compulsory release for under-23 players without discussing it with the stakeholders."

Although there is a tacit agreement with UEFA that clubs will not have to release players for London 2012 if they have also competed in the European Championship finals, Gandini said FIFA's mandate superseded that.

There was now a danger, he said, that national associations would pick any eligible players they liked.

"Clubs like mine have always respected the Olympics in terms of releasing players under 23 but now we have an actual FIFA regulation.

"My gut feeling is that it will definitely make a difference.

"But it's somewhat odd, quite frankly, given that discussions in the past have always been about the release of overage players, not the majority who are under-23."


Gandini couldn't comment on the suggestion that International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge (pictured right) may have put pressure on FIFA President Sepp Blatter (left) to make sure the Olympic football tournament, which permits only three overage entries per squad, comprises the strongest possible turnout.

African countries qualifying for London 2012 in particular are understood to be concerned about having to compete without some of their top players.

"All I will say is that this has come completely out of the blue," said Gandini.

"We'll discuss it next week for sure."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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