I'm sure "Leo" Messi will play at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I'm looking forward to the Argentina games in the Olympics. Meanwhile, Messi is still in St. Andrews, Scotland, in Barcelona's pre-season training. On July 21st, Barça arrived for their first training session.
This thing was solved. FIFA had presented Barca with a rule that overruled the club. Now Barça hit back with their own argument:
Barcelona asked FIFA directly to not let Messi go to the Olympics because they need him for the preliminary rounds of the Champions League.
Barça has the support of the "Liga Espanola de Futbol Professional" LPF, and of the European Association of clubs. These 2 organisms believe that the clubs are not obligated to authorize players to participate in the Olympics because it isn't in the official FIFA calendar.
FIFA has not yet responded.
Monica_Kun's thoughts:
I think Barça is being unfair for trying to overrule FIFA's 15 year agreement.
On July 21st, FIFA had told Barcelona it had not valid grounds/arguments to keep Messi with Barcelona's pre-season in St. Andrews, Scotland. Three days later, Barcelona has not let Messi go and is still in Scotland. Why can't FIFA enforce the 15 year old agreement and get "Leo" Messi on the airplane?
- What do you think of Barça's position for not letting Messi go?