Sports / Soccer |
FIFA eases ban on international matches at high altitude(Xinhua)Updated: 2007-06-28 00:44 World soccer governing body FIFA on Wednesday eased its high-altitude ban on international matches. FIFA President Sepp Blatter said that World Cup qualifying matches would be tolerated at altitudes up to 3,000 metres, instead of the 2,500 metres announced in May. The ban will also only apply to World Cup qualifiers, but not other international matches such as regional tournaments in Latin America or domestic matches, Blatter said. "The message was to say let's watch out and keep in mind the health of players," he said, underlining that the original decision was taken on the advice of FIFA's medical committee. FIFA's chief noted that Peru could use the stadium in the capital, Lima -- which is at sea level -- instead of Cuzco at 3,300 metres. The decision by FIFA's executive committee would effectively allow Bogota (2,640m) in Colombia and Quito (2,800m) in Ecuador to host qualifying matches for the 2010 World Cup. But it still sidelined Cuzco and the Bolivian capital La Paz (3,577m), despite the most vehement protests from Bolivia's President Evo Morales. Blatter is due to meet Morales in Zurich on Thursday, FIFA confirmed. FIFA's fresh decision largely mirrors proposals from the South American football confederation (CONMEBOL) last week to find a solution to the dispute. |
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