Messi banned from olympic games

[Rocksuperstar]

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Wo...+Lionel+Messi+Blocked+From+Competing+In+Games

One of the world's best players, Lionel Messi, has been barred from competing in the Olympic Games by a court appeal from his club, Barcelona.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that the Argentinian star, along with Brazilians Diego and Rafinha, would not be allowed to play.
Barcelona, along with the other two players' clubs, Werder Bremen and Schalke respectively, complained that they they did not want to lose their players for the start of the season.
Both Barcelona and Schalke are scheduled to play Champions League qualifying matches during the Olympics, and could lose out on millions of pounds if they failed to reach the group stage.
The men's Olympic football tournament is for players 23 and under, with three exceptions for older players.
Britain does not enter a team because home nations fear it would undermine their ability to compete independently in World and European Cups.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he would respect the CAS decision, but also hoped that the teams would then relent and allow the players to compete.
The men's football tournament starts on Thursday, a day before the opening ceremony of the Beijing Games.
The women's tournament started on Wednesday.

f*cked up... I mean i can see the concern from the clubs, but next up will be clubs turning to the courts for exemption from international friendlies and, who knows, even maybe full competition :shrug:



stinks.

 

[Teofilo-Stevenson]

Well he played most of today's game against Belguim and got a goal - so I'm guessing Barca relented and let hi go after all.