FIFA bans high-altitude international matches

Worried about the players’ health, FIFA has clamped a carpet ban on international soccer matches above an altitude of 2,500 metres. FIFA President Sepp Blatter told reporters that the federation was guided by the report from its medical committee which advised not to allow such high-altitude matches. Blatter said, I know there will be complaints about this, especially from South America, but we have to think of the health of the players first. It also leads to a distortion of the competition if matches are played at such a level. The Executive Committee has listened to a proposal from the medical committee and has decided to act because to play at above that altitude is not healthy or fair. Among South American countries, Bolivia often play their home matches in La Paz, which is more than 3,600 metres above sea level. Blatter, speaking ahead of FIFA’s 57th Congress, also revealed that of the 23,000 doping tests carried out in 2006, 91 had proved positive and among those, just seven were for steroids. Most of the drugs were marijuana or other addictions, not meant for performance-enhancing, he added.