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    Messi's Olympic hopes hang in balance, says dad

    Thursday, July 24, 2008

    Lionel Messi's father Jorge fears Barcelona will not release him for the Olympic Games next month. The Catalan club do not want the forward to travel to Beijing as it would rule him out of the preliminary rounds of the Champions League. FIFA president Sepp Blatter again reiterated on Wednesday that it is 'mandatory' for clubs to release players aged 23 and under for Olympic duty, but a number of clubs, including Barcelona, are lining up to challenge that position and may take the matter to the ...

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