BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) - Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola expects world football governing body FIFA will back the club in the on-going wrangle over Argentina's Lionel Messi's participation in the Beijing Olympics.
"We expect that FIFA will issue a statement saying that we are right," Guardiola told a news conference on Monday.
"If they say we are right the player will come here; if not, we will have no other choice but to accept that he will go to the Games."
The Spanish giants last month said they were reluctant to let the mercurial Messi go to August's Games as he was needed for early Champions League matches.
The 21-year-old recently expressed his desire to help his country defend their Olympic title, saying: "The Olympic Games are something that I'm not going to be able to play ever again."
The Olympic tournament begins on August 6 with the final on August 23, but the first leg of the third Champions League preliminary round is scheduled for August 12-13.
In 110 matches for Barcelona over four seasons, Messi has scored 42 goals and in 29 appearances for Argentina he has netted nine times.
He was runner-up to Brazilian Kaka in the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year award.
Argentina have been drawn against Ivory Coast, Australia and Serbia in Group A at the Olympics.
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stupid club.messi pls go and play for you country
OK, so you're Barca fans, aren't you?
What would you say if Barca wouldn't qualify for Champions' League?!
What would you say about the President and the trainer then? Sack them?!
No doubt - Ronnie, Deco and Eto'o did lots for Barca.
But so did everybody else. Including Laporta.
And it should go on light that!
It's not the reason for getting lazy, arrogant or careless.
It's a pity Messi is not allowed to go, but let's think about it: what does he care more about - the club or his ambitions?
And if it's his ambitions - what you, Barca fans, should think about?
Keep in mind - besides caring (or not caring) for his club, also has a nice contract.
I bet you don't get 100.000 euros per week for being Barca fan, do you?
i'm a huge fan og Barca and really think Laporta n co should go for the sake of Barca. he clearly disrupted the club with his regim style of approach. if Messi said he want to play at Beijing, then let him. he already unhappy with the treatment received by his mentors or should i say 'godfather'. those two is such a big icon to him, one left n another is swep aside. Barca fan please unite n sack Laporta!!
as a Barca fan I've always loved the atmosphere of understanding anywhere around the club, and it's a bit dissapointing to see a new case of misunderstanding around the club every single day, is that a new management principle ?
to f*usa:you couldn't be more wright
I am a Barca fan but I don't understand why they want to piss off their best player . Just let him go and represent his country. Don't be stupid !!
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