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FIFA won't let players get high
FIFA won't let players get high May 27, 2007
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Sportsnet.ca News
ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- FIFA has banned international games from being played more than 2,500 metres above sea level.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the decision was taken Sunday after a review by the medical team for world soccer's governing body.
Bolivia has held World Cup qualifiers at an altitude of about 3,600 metres in its capital La Paz. There has been criticism that Bolivia's advantage is not only unfair, but also dangerous for the players' health.
Earlier this year, Brazilian club Flamengo said they would not play again at altitude after several of their players needed oxygen during a game staged at nearly 4,000 metres against Bolivian team Real Potosi.
Peru also has stadiums above 3,000 metres.
Speaking after a meeting of FIFA's executive committee, Blatter also reiterated his full support in South Africa's ability to hold the 2010 World Cup.
"I was fighting to bring the World Cup to Africa," he said. "Now, I am not fighting, I am confident we are doing it."
Blatter noted that the same objections arose from European and Latin America nations when the United States held the World Cup in 1994.
"People said then that Americans didn't know what football was, but we taught them," Blatter said. "This is not the first time we have organized a World Cup."
Six South African government ministers will meet with Blatter and other top FIFA officials on Wednesday, ahead of the FIFA World Congress being held Wednesday and Thursday in Zurich.
Blatter said he and other top FIFA officials plan to visit South Africa from June 16-18 to check on the country's progress in upgrading its infrastructure.
Five of the 10 South African stadiums being built or upgraded for the 2010 World Cup are supposed to be finished by December 2008 -- but it is not yet clear that those deadlines will be met.
Blatter also said he still opposed the idea of national teams carrying commercial advertising on their shirts.
"As long as I can help it, I will see that national teams do not have advertising on their jerseys," Blatter said.
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Sportsnet.ca News
ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- FIFA has banned international games from being played more than 2,500 metres above sea level.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the decision was taken Sunday after a review by the medical team for world soccer's governing body.
Bolivia has held World Cup qualifiers at an altitude of about 3,600 metres in its capital La Paz. There has been criticism that Bolivia's advantage is not only unfair, but also dangerous for the players' health.
Earlier this year, Brazilian club Flamengo said they would not play again at altitude after several of their players needed oxygen during a game staged at nearly 4,000 metres against Bolivian team Real Potosi.
Peru also has stadiums above 3,000 metres.
Speaking after a meeting of FIFA's executive committee, Blatter also reiterated his full support in South Africa's ability to hold the 2010 World Cup.
"I was fighting to bring the World Cup to Africa," he said. "Now, I am not fighting, I am confident we are doing it."
Blatter noted that the same objections arose from European and Latin America nations when the United States held the World Cup in 1994.
"People said then that Americans didn't know what football was, but we taught them," Blatter said. "This is not the first time we have organized a World Cup."
Six South African government ministers will meet with Blatter and other top FIFA officials on Wednesday, ahead of the FIFA World Congress being held Wednesday and Thursday in Zurich.
Blatter said he and other top FIFA officials plan to visit South Africa from June 16-18 to check on the country's progress in upgrading its infrastructure.
Five of the 10 South African stadiums being built or upgraded for the 2010 World Cup are supposed to be finished by December 2008 -- but it is not yet clear that those deadlines will be met.
Blatter also said he still opposed the idea of national teams carrying commercial advertising on their shirts.
"As long as I can help it, I will see that national teams do not have advertising on their jerseys," Blatter said.
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