The decision by the body's executive committee in Zurich on Sunday means that Bolivia will no longer be able to play in their capital city of La Paz, while the likes of Ecuador and Peru will also be affected.

"For medical reasons and in the interests of player health, the executive also ruled that in future, no international matches may be played at an altitude higher than 2,500 metres above sea level," read a statement posted on the www.fifa.com website.

Bolivia's Stadio Hernan Siles in La Paz, nicknamed 'El Nido del Condor', is 3,600 metres (11,810 feet) above sea level.

Opponents have complained that playing at altitude is giving the home team an unfair advantage but there have also been medical concerns expressed.

Meanwhile, FIFA have expressed conference in 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa.

The statement read: "With regard to the 2010 FIFA World Cup? in South Africa, the executive committee and the president (Sepp Blatter) in particular underlined, once again, that FIFA has the utmost confidence in the local organisers."

The statement added that Blatter would visit South Africa in June.