"We will now discuss the issue with the DFL (German Football League) and DFB (German Football Federation) to see what we do now. This is the first time that a player has made a decision of his own accord that goes against the orders of his club," said Schalke's general manager, Andreas Mueller.
"I can understand that he dreams of playing at the Olympics but the interests of his club should be at China, Taiwan take step to improve ties ...
German citizen in Afghanistan held by US released ... the forefront," he said.
German-based Rafinha, Diego of Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich's Breno have all been selected for Brazil's Beijing squad, but Breno is the only one to have received permission from his club to travel to China.
Rafinha has the support of International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, who told DPA news agency last week that "the law says that if a club doesn't release a player, then the player will be suspended (from playing) for the whole period of the Games."
But FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke made clear Sunday in a telephone call to his counterpart in the DFB, Wolfgang Niersbach, that there was no obligation on clubs to release their players for the Olympics.
"There is no requirement to release players, regardless of whether they are older or younger than 23," said Niersbach in an interview with the
Sport-Bild newspaper.
Conflicting reports
However on Friday, FIFA spokesperson Alain Leiblang told DPA that "all clubs have been informed that they have to release their players."
Leiblang's comment chimes with Rogge's view that the rule applies to all under-23 players -- unless they don't want to play at the Games.
The Olympic tournament is an under-23 event with three older players allowed per team.
"FIFA has reminded the clubs of this law," said Rogge at the time. "They sent a letter a couple of days ago to remind them of that."
Bayer Leverkusen CEO Wolfgang Holzhaeuser confirmed that his club had received a letter from soccer's ruling body but added that there was no mention of a requirement to release players.
Leverkusen had been battling against Ivory Coast player Constant Djakpa traveling to Beijing but the player has now agreed not to go to China.
It remains unclear what the situation is with Bremen's midfield star Diego. The club has yet to release him but CEO Klaus Allofs doesn't believe Diego will take the situation into his own hands like Rafinha has.
"I am not afraid of that happening," he said.
(Deutsche Welle)
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