FIFA will issue guidelines today to calm growing tension between clubs and countries over the release of players for the Olympic soccer tournament.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, an International Olympic Committee member, is preparing to rule on whether players must report for national duty if selected for next month's Beijing Games, which runs in direct conflict with the start of the European season.

FIFA declined to comment yesterday but said an official statement from the president's office is expected in the next 24 hours.

Blatter has been an IOC member since 1999 and is a strong supporter of the Olympic tournament.

"For any player, the Olympic football tournament represents a highlight of his career and I hope that a solution can be found," Blatter said in February.

Current FIFA advice obliges clubs to release players 23 and under, but allows them to stop older players taking part. Each of the 16 competing teams can have three over-age players on its roster.

The informal rule is being tested by two German clubs after the announcement of the Brazil squad.

Pre-season training

Werder Bremen has refused to release Diego, a 23-year-old midfielder, and Schalke wants to keep its 22-year-old defender Rafinha.

Both clubs say the players would miss pre-season training and two Bundesliga games, while Schalke has a Champions League qualifying round match scheduled for August 12 or 13.

Brazil star Ronaldinho has also been chosen but the 28-year-old midfielder's Spanish club FC Barcelona is refusing to let him go to China, where Brazil is due to play the host nation on August 13.

Ronaldinho says he will defy the club and play in Beijing.

"I do not see myself being left out of Beijing," Ronaldinho said on Tuesday. "I see myself in the Olympics doing good things and bringing home the gold medal."

Barcelona said on its Website that the former world player of the year "will have to report for training on Monday, the first session of the 2008-09 season."

"The Olympics do not form part of the official FIFA calendar, and no official decision has ever been made in that respect, so the club is under no obligation to allow its player to travel," the statement said.

The Brazilian, who last played on March 9, was still under contract with Barcelona, even though he has been linked with transfers to Manchester City and AC Milan.

The Brazil squad is scheduled to gather in two weeks for the Olympics. "I feel very motivated and happy for having been summoned to the team," Ronaldinho said. "My aim is now to prepare myself for the Olympic Games - an honor few players have received."

Ronaldinho's agent and brother, Roberto de Assis, said he was also confident that Ronaldinho would be going to Beijing.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily July 10, 2008)