Olympic players to remain in Beijing
NEITHER Liverpool nor Everton are expected to order back any of their players from the Olympics despite the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to allow clubs to pull their players out of the Games.
Liverpool declined to comment officially yesterday on the surprise ruling that allows clubs to withdraw their players after Barcelona, Werder Bremen and Schalke appealed.
But Rafael Benitez does not want to upset his three players who are about to start the tournament later this week, particularly Javier Mascherano, who wants to win a second gold medal.
The Argentinian midfielder said: "Just being able to take part at a second Olympic Games is a dream for me.
"It's a rare feat for a footballer. Before heading over here, I did think how nice it would be to give Argentina its second football gold. Of course, it would also be remarkable from a personal standpoint."
Mascherano, plus Anfield team-mates Lucas Leiva of Brazil and Netherlands' Ryan Babel have all made it clear they want to be in China.
Although Benitez's captain Steven Gerrard remains a serious doubt for next Wednesday's trip to Standard Liege in a Champions League qualifier the Spaniard will resist the temptation to recall any of his Olympians.
Half the Premier League have lost men to the Olympics, a tournament for under-23s supplemented by three over-age players.
England's top clubs seem set not to rock the Olympic boat despite the landmark ruling in Switzerland confirming they do not have to release their players.
Although the judgment, reached by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, concerned only Lionel Messi of Barcelona, plus Schalke's Brazilian defender Rafinha and fellow countryman Diego from Werder Bremen, it covers all players.
Everton also have a player on duty in Beijing in the shape of Nigerian striker Victor Anichebe but manager David Moyes is also not expected to bring back the player early for club duty.
The men's football tournament kicks off today with Mascherano's Argentina, the defending champions, facing the Ivory Coast in Shanghai, Babel's Netherlands tackling Anichebe's Nigeria and Lucas's Brazil versus Belgium.
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With British clubs content (although not exactly overjoyed) to allow their players to compete in the Olympics despite this clear ruling, perhaps it's now time for the Blatters of this world to get off the back of the Premier League and concentrate its ire at the Continent, especially given the vast problems faced in European football as regards such issues as rampant racism at matches.
And with this concilliatory action shown by British football, perhaps FIFA could reciprocate by showing firm leadership on the matter of a GB team at London 2012 by making it perfectly clear that such a team would definitely not compromise the standing of the home nations in the world game?