The high-altitude football controversy arose in May 2007 when FIFA introduced a temporary ban on international matches at more than 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) above sea level, citing concerns about players' health and the "unfair" advantage to acclimatised home teams. The ruling meant that Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia would be prevented from hosting FIFA World Cup qualifiers in their own capital cities. The ban was revoked in May 2008.
The ruling followed complaints by the Brazilian Football Confederation that La Paz and other Andean venues left visiting players gasping for breath and with pounding hearts. Brazilian club Flamengo had vowed to boycott high-altitude games after several of its players resorted to using bottled oxygen during a Copa Libertadores fixture against Real Potosí of Bolivia, held in rainy conditions at an altitude of 3,637 metres (11,932 ft).[1] Following this complaint a number of other Brazilian clubs declared that they would not play Copa Libertadores games at high altitude and put pressure on the Brazilian Football Confederation and FIFA to impose a ban on football at high altitude.
The ruling
The ruling required players to arrive at the host city one week before international games above 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) and two weeks for matches higher than 3,000 metres (9,800 ft), to allow time to adjust to the thin air.[citation needed]
Reaction
Many of Bolivia's major cities, including Sucre and Potosí, are at high altitude. Bolivia's president, Evo Morales, vowed to lead a campaign against the ban after speaking at an emergency cabinet meeting. Morales said the ruling amounted to discrimination: "This is not only a ban on Bolivia, but it is also a ban on the universality of sports." Morales described the ban as "football apartheid," said he would send a high-level delegation to FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, and called on other countries to join his campaign. "We cannot allow discrimination in football, we cannot allow... exclusion in the world of sports," he added.
Diego Maradona joined the campaign, playing an hour-long game at Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz, which is located 3,600 metres (11,800 ft) above sea level, to show that if a 47-year-old could play there, so could fit, young professionals. He led a team of former Argentine internationals in a 7–4 victory over a Bolivian team led by Evo Morales.[2] On 1 April 2009, FIFA called Bolivia's 6–1 victory over the Maradona-coached Argentina national team a "stunning defeat in high altitude against the rank outsiders". Maradona did not blame the altitude for Argentina's defeat, giving credit to the Bolivian players "from the goalkeeper to the last substitute".[3]
All of the football associations in South America except Brazil stated that they would ignore the ban on high-altitude football and play fixtures in the stadium of their host's choice, whether or not they had the opportunity to acclimatise for a week.
Raising of the limit
In June 2007 FIFA raised the limit from 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) to 3,000 metres (9,800 ft), meaning that the only capital city affected by the ban would be La Paz.[4]
Suspension of the ban
In May 2008, FIFA suspended the ban after a letter of protest from CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football, backed by all member associations except for the Brazilian Football Confederation.[5][6] FIFA's executive committee voted to rescind the ruling, thus allowing Bolivia and Ecuador to host World Cup qualifying games in their capital cities.[7]Sepp Blatter, FIFA's president, said the prohibition had been provisionally lifted while further studies were conducted on the effect of high altitude as well extremes of temperature, humidity, and high levels of pollution, saying "Let us reopen the discussion."[8] However, on 10 June 2010 Blatter stated that "The subject of altitude is not on FIFA’s agenda."[9]
References
^Bolivia lead fight against FIFA ban on high altitude in The Scotsman
^"Maradona tops Bolivia's Morales in match celebrating high-altitude soccer". International Herald Tribune. 29 March 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
^Blatter: My mission is not over: on the issue of altitude[dead link]
External links
Why Fifa's altitude ban is the height of stupidity in The Guardian
January 31, 2023
high, altitude, football, controversy, high, altitude, football, controversy, arose, 2007, when, fifa, introduced, temporary, international, matches, more, than, metres, above, level, citing, concerns, about, players, health, unfair, advantage, acclimatised, h. The high altitude football controversy arose in May 2007 when FIFA introduced a temporary ban on international matches at more than 2 500 metres 8 200 ft above sea level citing concerns about players health and the unfair advantage to acclimatised home teams The ruling meant that Bolivia Ecuador and Colombia would be prevented from hosting FIFA World Cup qualifiers in their own capital cities The ban was revoked in May 2008 Contents 1 Origins 2 The ruling 3 Reaction 4 Raising of the limit 5 Suspension of the ban 6 References 7 External linksOrigins EditThe ruling followed complaints by the Brazilian Football Confederation that La Paz and other Andean venues left visiting players gasping for breath and with pounding hearts Brazilian club Flamengo had vowed to boycott high altitude games after several of its players resorted to using bottled oxygen during a Copa Libertadores fixture against Real Potosi of Bolivia held in rainy conditions at an altitude of 3 637 metres 11 932 ft 1 Following this complaint a number of other Brazilian clubs declared that they would not play Copa Libertadores games at high altitude and put pressure on the Brazilian Football Confederation and FIFA to impose a ban on football at high altitude The ruling EditThe ruling required players to arrive at the host city one week before international games above 2 500 metres 8 200 ft and two weeks for matches higher than 3 000 metres 9 800 ft to allow time to adjust to the thin air citation needed Reaction EditMany of Bolivia s major cities including Sucre and Potosi are at high altitude Bolivia s president Evo Morales vowed to lead a campaign against the ban after speaking at an emergency cabinet meeting Morales said the ruling amounted to discrimination This is not only a ban on Bolivia but it is also a ban on the universality of sports Morales described the ban as football apartheid said he would send a high level delegation to FIFA s headquarters in Zurich and called on other countries to join his campaign We cannot allow discrimination in football we cannot allow exclusion in the world of sports he added Diego Maradona joined the campaign playing an hour long game at Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz which is located 3 600 metres 11 800 ft above sea level to show that if a 47 year old could play there so could fit young professionals He led a team of former Argentine internationals in a 7 4 victory over a Bolivian team led by Evo Morales 2 On 1 April 2009 FIFA called Bolivia s 6 1 victory over the Maradona coached Argentina national team a stunning defeat in high altitude against the rank outsiders Maradona did not blame the altitude for Argentina s defeat giving credit to the Bolivian players from the goalkeeper to the last substitute 3 All of the football associations in South America except Brazil stated that they would ignore the ban on high altitude football and play fixtures in the stadium of their host s choice whether or not they had the opportunity to acclimatise for a week Raising of the limit EditIn June 2007 FIFA raised the limit from 2 500 metres 8 200 ft to 3 000 metres 9 800 ft meaning that the only capital city affected by the ban would be La Paz 4 Suspension of the ban EditIn May 2008 FIFA suspended the ban after a letter of protest from CONMEBOL the governing body of South American football backed by all member associations except for the Brazilian Football Confederation 5 6 FIFA s executive committee voted to rescind the ruling thus allowing Bolivia and Ecuador to host World Cup qualifying games in their capital cities 7 Sepp Blatter FIFA s president said the prohibition had been provisionally lifted while further studies were conducted on the effect of high altitude as well extremes of temperature humidity and high levels of pollution saying Let us reopen the discussion 8 However on 10 June 2010 Blatter stated that The subject of altitude is not on FIFA s agenda 9 References Edit Bolivia lead fight against FIFA ban on high altitude in The Scotsman Maradona tops Bolivia s Morales in match celebrating high altitude soccer International Herald Tribune 29 March 2009 Retrieved 11 May 2011 FIFA com The Associated Press 27 June 2007 FIFA raises altitude limit Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved 11 May 2011 Nine countries commit to play at high altitude at CONMEBOL FIFA Relaxes Stance On Altitude Ruling at FIFPro Carroll Rory 29 May 2008 FIFA suspends ban on high altitude football The Guardian FIFA shelves high altitude ban at Soccerway Blatter My mission is not over on the issue of altitude dead link External links EditWhy Fifa s altitude ban is the height of stupidity in The Guardian How much effect does altitude have on footballers Online calculator Author Andrew Bretherick Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title High altitude football controversy amp oldid 1123378694, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
