FIFA facing players release dispute

FIFA are facing a dispute over the release of three players for the Olympic football tournament.

French clubs Lorient and Le Mans have each refused to release a player for the Gabon squad, and the west African team have also failed to secure the release of a third player from a Gabon club.

FIFA lost a case in the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2008 which ruled that clubs were not obliged to release players and the governing body are now monitoring the situation with Gabon.

A FIFA spokesman said: “The national federation are trying to come to an agreement with the clubs. We are aware of the situation and we are maintaining a watching brief.”

The players involved are first choice keeper Didier Ovono from Le Mans, defender Bruno Ecuele from Lorient, and Remy Ebanega from Gabon club US Bitam.

Each country has a squad of 18 players and Gabon are already down to the bare bones after another player was taken to hospital on crutches after a friendly match at the weekend.

Meanwhile, Brazil are considering asking for a replacement for keeper Rafael Cabral due to an injury to the Santos player.