[Sachin]

Not unless FIFA and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) come to an accord:

http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer...-sports-soccer

Sachin

[ttrevett]

Yeah, I read about this yesterday. I just cannot imagine that FIFA and the IOC won't come to some accord on this issue. There is way too much at stake for there to be no soccer at the Olympics. Too much money involved for this not to get sorted out.

[LoTheLurker]

Originally Posted by ttrevett

Yeah, I read about this yesterday. I just cannot imagine that FIFA and the IOC won't come to some accord on this issue. There is way too much at stake for there to be no soccer at the Olympics. Too much money involved for this not to get sorted out.

Except FIFA doesn't care about the Oly's. It's low on their list of 50 billion different tourneys.

[Chargefan]

Low on the priorities for MEN, this is still a huge tourney for Women

[ttrevett]

Originally Posted by LoTheLurker

Except FIFA doesn't care about the Oly's. It's low on their list of 50 billion different tourneys.

Where do you get your info? By the way I didn't mean money for FIFA, but for the IOC and its sponsors.

[LoTheLurker]

Originally Posted by ttrevett

Where do you get your info? By the way I didn't mean money for FIFA, but for the IOC and its sponsors.

It's pretty much common knowledge that FIFA considers the Oly's somewhere down below their many other championship tourneys. Hence the U-23 age limit.

Yes it is important for the women. Ranks with the WWC for the women. Question is - does FIFA care about the women? Seppy has been a strong supporter (other than the wear short shorts comments) so hopefully they don't get bull-headed.

[Hamm-star]

Originally Posted by LoTheLurker

It's pretty much common knowledge that FIFA considers the Oly's somewhere down below their many other championship tourneys. Hence the U-23 age limit.

Yes it is important for the women. Ranks with the WWC for the women. Question is - does FIFA care about the women? Seppy has been a strong supporter (other than the wear short shorts comments) so hopefully they don't get bull-headed.

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I would think concidering that Fifa is the world governing body of the sport of soccer they would want their sport to be represented. Otherwise isn't it kind of like shooting ones own foot? i think Fifa understands the Olympics is a significant tourney. And I agree Lo....Sepp has always struck me as very supportive of the ladies. While fifa may push the envelope a bit and bring things parilously close to the start of the games. i think in the end an agreement will be reached.

[j&bontherock]

Does anybody know how to get the GolTV channel ? i have direct TV but i don't think there's a channel called GolTV....sorry out of subject.

[Line9Foul]

Hey to bad for the Mexicans U23 that beat our U23 in the Olympic Qualifiers... they might not end up going to Athens anyways...hehehe.. why does everything goes bad for Mexico.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by Hamm-star

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I would think concidering that Fifa is the world governing body of the sport of soccer they would want their sport to be represented. Otherwise isn't it kind of like shooting ones own foot? i think Fifa understands the Olympics is a significant tourney. And I agree Lo....Sepp has always struck me as very supportive of the ladies. While fifa may push the envelope a bit and bring things parilously close to the start of the games. i think in the end an agreement will be reached.

Actually, no. FIFA's number one concern is the World Cup. Everything else is secondary. That is why U-23 teams are used for the men's Olympic tournament. True the women's tournament is important to women's players, but I wonder how well the games will sell in Greece.

While Sepp is interested in the women's game, at least publicly, it does not come close to the being the cash cow the World Cup is. And right now, the women's game is not even close.