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You are here: Home Health & Fitness Fitness & Sports Stars in a quandary as clubs get tough over Olympics

18/07/2008Stars in a quandary as clubs get tough over Olympics

The club versus country debate hots up ahead of next month's summer Games in Beijing.

Some of Europe's top football players are on collision course with their clubs over the right to be able to represent their countries at next month's Olympic Games.

Two of the biggest names in the game - Brazilian Ronaldinho and Argentinian Lionel Messi - have been nominated for their nations' Olympic squads, much to the annoyance of Spanish giants Barcelona.

Ronaldinho had barely been named by Brazil coach Carlos Dunga for the Games when Barca officials objected, even though the 28-year-old has been deemed surplus to requirements at the club.

"Ronaldinho has to report for training next Monday," read a club statement.

"The Olympics do not feature in the FIFA calendar and there are no special rulings on the issue, so the club is not obliged to release its players."

Barcelona's statement made no mention of 21-year-old striker Lionel Messi, who has been included in the squad of defending Olympic champions Argentina.

However, sports director Txiki Begiristain recently told Marca sports daily that Barcelona wanted the maximum number of players available for the Champions League qualifying stage.

"Our objective is to go into the preliminaries with all our players, including Messi," he said.

"We understand the importance of playing the preliminary round. We think that we are right and the player should not be freed by us."

Barcelona, who finished third in La Liga behind champion Real Madrid and Villarreal, are involved in Champions League qualifying matches during the August 7-23 Olympic football tournament.

The Olympic tournament is an under-23 affair but each participating team is allowed to include three over-age players. However, the tournament falls outside of the international calendar and clashes with the start of the league seasons in Europe.

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