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Fifa suspends altitude match ban | Fifa suspends altitude match ban |
(about 10 hours later) | |
Football's governing body, Fifa, has suspended restrictions on international matches being played at high altitude. | Football's governing body, Fifa, has suspended restrictions on international matches being played at high altitude. |
"Let us re-open the discussion," said Fifa president Sepp Blatter after a meeting of the organisation's executive committee in Australia. | "Let us re-open the discussion," said Fifa president Sepp Blatter after a meeting of the organisation's executive committee in Australia. |
Bolivia, with the world's highest international venue, had complained it was being discriminated against. | Bolivia, with the world's highest international venue, had complained it was being discriminated against. |
The restrictions will be suspended while a panel examines the issue of playing football in extreme conditions. | The restrictions will be suspended while a panel examines the issue of playing football in extreme conditions. |
The Fifa study will look into playing in high temperatures and humidity as well as at altitude. | The Fifa study will look into playing in high temperatures and humidity as well as at altitude. |
Fifa imposed a limit for international matches of 2,750m (9,022 ft) altitude in December. | Fifa imposed a limit for international matches of 2,750m (9,022 ft) altitude in December. |
Outcry | Outcry |
Under the ruling, players could only take part in matches above this altitude if they had had one week to acclimatise, rising to 15 days for games above 3,000m (9,843ft). | Under the ruling, players could only take part in matches above this altitude if they had had one week to acclimatise, rising to 15 days for games above 3,000m (9,843ft). |
Bolivian President Evo Morales playing football | |
Clubs have to release their players for internationals only five days ahead of internationals. | Clubs have to release their players for internationals only five days ahead of internationals. |
The regulations had caused an outcry among South American countries, in particular Bolivia, where the Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz is 3,577m (11,740ft) above sea level, and Ecuador. | The regulations had caused an outcry among South American countries, in particular Bolivia, where the Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz is 3,577m (11,740ft) above sea level, and Ecuador. |
Nine countries from the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) signed a declaration of support for Bolivia last month. | Nine countries from the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) signed a declaration of support for Bolivia last month. |
Announcing the change, Mr Blatter said Fifa had taken into account lobbying from South America. | Announcing the change, Mr Blatter said Fifa had taken into account lobbying from South America. |
"The Fifa Medical Committee have recommended that teams must acclimatise properly if they play at high altitude," he said. | "The Fifa Medical Committee have recommended that teams must acclimatise properly if they play at high altitude," he said. |
"The committee wants to examine this, and other extreme playing conditions such as heat, pollution or humidity." | "The committee wants to examine this, and other extreme playing conditions such as heat, pollution or humidity." |
Qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup can now go ahead at high altitude venues while Fifa works out permanent changes to the rules on match conditions. | Qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup can now go ahead at high altitude venues while Fifa works out permanent changes to the rules on match conditions. |
The restrictions were originally imposed on medical grounds and because high altitude is perceived as giving the home team an unfair advantage. | The restrictions were originally imposed on medical grounds and because high altitude is perceived as giving the home team an unfair advantage. |
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