FanHouse FIFAWorldCup

Barcelona FC is doing everything in its power to keep Lionel Messi out of Beijing.

Despite repeated reminders from FIFA that clubs must release players under the age of 23 for the Olympics, Barcelona is refusing to let Messi, 21, play for Argentina, claiming that Olympic soccer not a FIFA-sanctioned event and that FIFA has no right to demand any player's release. The Spanish superclub plans to take its case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport this week while taking Messi with them on their American tour.

Barca isn't the only one holding players back. Two German Bundesliga clubs, Werden Bremen and Schalke 04, are defying a FIFA order to release under-23 Brazilian stars Diego and Rafinha for the Olympics. They plan to go to the CAS as well.

By contrast, Liverpool was under no obligation to release Javier Mascherano, 24, for the Olympics, but they did anyway, and Messi has made it clear that he wants to join Mascherano in Beijing and win the gold for Argentina.

This begs the question: why do these Brazilians and Argentinians care so much about Olympic soccer, which certainly doesn't have the prestige of a World Cup or even a Copa America? They care because, as the BBC's Tim Vickery points out, it was the Olympics that put South American soccer on the map -- and begat the FIFA World Cup.

Barcelona FC is doing everything in its power to keep Lionel Messi out of Beijing.

Despite repeated reminders from FIFA that clubs must release players under the age of 23 for the Olympics, Barcelona is refusing to let Messi, 21, play for Argentina, claiming that Olympic soccer not a FIFA-sanctioned event and that FIFA has no right to demand any player's release. The Spanish superclub plans to take its case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport this week while taking Messi with them on their American tour.

Barca isn't the only one holding players back. Two German Bundesliga clubs, Werden Bremen and Schalke 04, are defying a FIFA order to release under-23 Brazilian stars Diego and Rafinha for the Olympics. They plan to go to the CAS as well.

By contrast, Liverpool was under no obligation to release Javier Mascherano, 24, for the Olympics, but they did anyway, and Messi has made it clear that he wants to join Mascherano in Beijing and win the gold for Argentina.

This begs the question: why do these Brazilians and Argentinians care so much about Olympic soccer, which certainly doesn't have the prestige of a World Cup or even a Copa America? They care because, as the BBC's Tim Vickery points out, it was the Olympics that put South American soccer on the map -- and begat the FIFA World Cup.

For an organization that insists it's not moving the 2010 World Cup out of South Africa, FIFA sure is taking a lot of steps to prepare to move the 2010 World Cup out of South Africa.

Earlier today, Spanish newspaper AS reported that FIFA is in talks with Brazil about staging the 2010 World Cup there in the event that South Africa cannot host the event. FIFA president Sepp Blatter continues to insist that "only a natural disaster" would cause the competition to be moved, but questions about South Africa's readiness to host the event -- not to mention the continued political turmoil of its northern neighbors -- won't go away easily. This World Cup is expected to serve as Africa's coming-out party, and moving the competition elsewhere would be a huge black eye for the entire continent.

Brazil was already picked to host the 2014 World Cup, so the question remains as to whether the country could prepare to host the event four years early. Also, if Brazil ends up hosting the event in 2010, who would host the 2014 World Cup?

Previously at FanHouse:
Mugabe Controversy Won't Sway Blatter, FIFA
Is FIFA Preparing for Collapse of World Cup?

Premier League president Richard Scudamore has been stunningly defiant in his quest to add a week of overseas matches to the league schedule, in spite of opposition from English fans and nearly every country around the world. Now, however, it appears he's been trumped.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced yesterday that if the Premier League continues to pursue this "39th Game" plan, England could miss out on the 2018 World Cup.

"I will not deny chances to any of the candidates for 2018 but I cannot imagine that when you go against the deciding body for the decision on the World Cup that you will enhance your chances. It will not be diplomatic."

That's the final whistle, folks. The 39th Game is dead. The FA is not about to let Scudamore's money-grab get in the way of a World Cup bid. Sure, Scudamore will keep rattling his saber, but if Blatter is forcing England to choose between having this 39th Game and hosting a World Cup, England will choose the World Cup. Every time.

Scudamore really has miscalculated the response to his proposal quite badly. I've seen better management skills than this at the L.A. Galaxy.