Bolivian president Evo Morales has accused FIFA of "issuing the death penalty to the universality of football" after their decision to allocate time for teams to adapt to altitude for games played at higher than 2,500 metres above sea level.
Football's world governing body on Friday issued a press release establishing periods of adaptation from three to 15 days for official games played in such cities. This has yet to be ratified.
Morales said: "It is a form of making the world disjointed. In fact it's a ban. Thus football will no longer be a sport for everyone, but only for the powerful teams."
Bolivia always host international games - including the World Cup qualifiers - in La Paz, which is 3,600 metres above sea level.
Meanwhile, the two Bolivian teams taking part in the upcoming Copa Libertadores - Real Potosi and San Jose - are from Potosi and Oruro, 4,000 and 3,700 metres above sea level respectively.
Bolivian FA president Carlos Chavez added: "The decision is not applicable because no clubs coming from outside will be able to get acclimatised in the time they are talking about. The blows delivered by FIFA continue."
Morales said: "It is a form of making the world disjointed. In fact it's a ban. Thus football will no longer be a sport for everyone, but only for the powerful teams."
Bolivia always host international games - including the World Cup qualifiers - in La Paz, which is 3,600 metres above sea level.
Meanwhile, the two Bolivian teams taking part in the upcoming Copa Libertadores - Real Potosi and San Jose - are from Potosi and Oruro, 4,000 and 3,700 metres above sea level respectively.
Bolivian FA president Carlos Chavez added: "The decision is not applicable because no clubs coming from outside will be able to get acclimatised in the time they are talking about. The blows delivered by FIFA continue."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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