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FIFA: Final Olympics decision on Wednesday

FIFA will rule on whether or not clubs are obliged to release players for the Olympics
FIFA will rule on whether or not clubs are obliged to release players for the Olympics

FIFA has said it will issue its final decision on the release of players for next month's Beijing Olympics on Wednesday.

World soccer's governing body was originally planning to make an announcement on Tuesday but a spokesman said more time was needed for writing up the reasons for the decision.

A judge appointed by FIFA's players' status committee has been asked to decide if FIFA is right in saying that clubs must release any players aged under 23 who are called up to their national Olympic squads.

Several top clubs, including Bundesliga sides Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen and Spain's Barcelona, have challenged FIFA's interpretation, arguing that the Olympics are not included on the international match calendar.

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