Barca make Messi appeal

CAS to also hear cases from Werder and Schalke

Last updated: 2nd August 2008

Lionel Messi

Messi: Will he play in Games?

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Barcelona have lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding Lionel Messi's Olympics call-up.

Messi has been included in Argentina's squad for the Games in Beijing, which start next week, but Barcelona want to block the attacker's participation.

The Spanish giants are keen for Messi to play in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League qualifier against either Beitar Jerusalem or Wisla Krakow on 12th or 13th August.

However, Fifa have ordered that all players under the age of 23 must be released by their clubs for the Olympic football tournament.

Barca president Joan Laporta had been hoping to reach a compromise, but has now taken the matter up with the CAS.

Werder Bremen and Schalke have also lodged appeals with the CAS regarding the respective call-ups of Diego and Rafinha to the Brazil squad.

The CAS have confirmed that all three appeals will be heard at the same time, with a decision to be announced on or before 6th August.