The Werder Bremen board of management displayed a composed reaction following the circular letter sent by FIFA president Joseph Blatter to all member federations which required the release of all nominated, under 23, players for the Olympic football tournament.
“The Werder Bremen board of management don’t see any alteration in the situation following this circular and have concluded that Blatter’s comments do not successfully solve the problem. As in previous letters from FIFA, Blatter based his comments on general common law and the special character of the Olympic Games. According to our federations, DFB and DFL, this circular bears no binding obligation,” emphasised general manager Klaus Allofs on Wednesday afternoon.
Following renewed discussion with both the DFB and DFL, the Werder Bremen board of management are eminent of their legal position that the FIFA statutes do not demand the obligatory release of players for the Olympic tournament in Peking. They intend to continue on their course and also contact the International Sport Tribunal CAS.