Since the 1992 Olympic games, European clubs have heeded FIFA’s call for allowing Olympic eligible players (age 23 and under) to compete in the Olympics without objections.
The times, they are a changing.
German clubs Werder Bremen and Schalke 04 have refused to release Brazilians Diego and Rafinha for the tournament, prompting FIFA to prepare to clarify its own rules on Olympic call-ups.
What is going to happen? Well, if FIFA doesn’t want the Olympics to become a joke with mass rejections of player call-ups then it will do what FIFA does well, impose its rules with an iron fist. The Olympics are either an important tournament or not and failure to enforce a rule making teams release Olympic age playes would send a terrible message to European clubs and to players considering representing their countries.
Trezeguet retires as French international
Juventus striker and long-time French national team striker David Trezeguet has retired from the national team, citing France’s decision to retain head coach Raymond Domenech as head coach as the reason for his decision.
Can you really blame Trezeguet? It was bad enough that Domenech didn’t bring him in for the European Championships, but for Domenech to keep his job after France’s awful showing at the Euros left Trezeguet little choice.
It’s a sad end to a memorable national team career highlighted by Trezeguet’s game-winning goal in the Euro 2000 final against Italy, and lowlighted for his penalty kick miss in the 2006 World Cup.
Chelsea-Lampard battle wages on
The battle surrounding Frank Lampard’s uncertain future at Chelsea continues, with Lampard denying Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari’s suggestion that Lampard had committed his future to Chelsea. Now Chelsea is insisting that it will reject Inter’s offer for Lampard and he will see out the remaining year on his contract, whether or not he signs a new deal.
What a mess. What is clear is that Lampard is growing increasingly unhappy and looks prepared to battle Chelsea for his chance to join Jose Mourinho at Inter. Chelsea will likely let the battle play out before selling Lampard later in the window. By then the public clamoring will be to end the struggle, whereas now the fan backlash for selling Lampard would be greater.
What do you think of these stories? Should FIFA enforce the Olympic rules? Did Trezeguet do the right thing? Should Chelsea back down and let Lampard leave? Share your thoughts below?