Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola asked FIFA President Sepp Blatter to resolve the question over whether or not Leo Messi should play in the Olympic Games.
Guardiola took advantage of the press conference following his side's 6-0 win over Hibernians in Edinburgh late on Thursday night to make his point, which was reported in Diario Sport on Friday.
21-year-old Messi has been called up to represent Argentina in Beijing and clubs are obliged to release players who are under the age of 23. Nevertheless Barca believe they have the right to keep Messi, because they have to play a vital Champions League qualifying tie in August and Blatter earlier hinted that sides would be allowed to keep players in such situations.
Guardiola asked Blatter to end the ongoing stalemate once and for all.
"It is as simple as Blatter saying 'Messi is staying' and the case is closed, or 'Messi is going,' and the question is also closed. The question is starting to grow tiresome and the lad (Messi) doesn't deserve to have to go through all of this. We want him to be able to concentrate: FIFA have to decide now," said Guardiola.
"Messi knows how important he is here, but Blatter has to make a decision. At the end of the day, the person suffering is Messi. We have been a long time in this situation and it has gone on long enough. Blatter has to decide," he insisted.
Meanwhile speaking on Catalan TV station TV3 club President Joan Laporta insisted that Barca needed Messi to play for them.
"It will be resolved by agreement. We have to truth and the law on our side and the Argentine Football Association have to realize that we have to play a qualifying round for the Champions League. We are talking about two very important games and we need Leo (Messi) to be with us," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency July 26, 2008)