FIFA vice-chief ´shocked´ at Blatter Olympic plan

FIFA vice-president Chung Mong-Joon said Thursday he was “shocked and disappointed” at Sepp Blatter’s proposal to enforce an age limit on Olympic football players.

Chung said he would launch a campaign against the FIFA president’s move last week to cap the limit at 20 for players in the 2012 Olympics and do away with wildcards.

Previously, teams could field athletes aged up to 23, plus three over-age players.

Blatter’s proposal, which requires approval by the FIFA general assembly in June in the Bahamas, “runs against the spirit of the Olympics,” Chung told reporters.

“I’m shocked and disappointed,” said the Korean, accusing Blatter of pushing for the change without consulting FIFA’s Olympic committee.

Chung said other FIFA members agree with him because its last general assembly in 2006 had not reached a conclusion on this issue.