FIFA have confirmed there will a reinstatement of a ban on international matches staged at stadiums over 2,750 metres above sea level unless there is an adequate period of acclimatisation.
The governing body had originally issued an unconditional ban on matches at 2,500 metres or higher in May after advice from its medical committee.
Following objections from a number of Latin American countries, the limit was relaxed to 3,000 metres in June but FIFA have revised that original decision.
A statement on www.fifa.com said: "A recommendation has been tabled by leading international medical specialists on high altitude at a seminar in Zurich at the end of October 2007.
"The FIFA executive committee agreed that unless those involved were allowed to acclimatise, no matches in FIFA competitions would be permitted at an altitude in excess of 2,750 metres above sea level.
"Furthermore, this decision will be integrated into the regulations of all FIFA competitions with immediate effect and it was recommended that the same limit be enforced in all other international competitions."
High-altitude cities including Quito in Ecuador at 2,800 metres and La Paz in Bolivia at 3,577 metres are all affected.
Bolivia's president Evo Morales in particular had been one of the most vocal opponents of the original ban which would prevent them playing games at the Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter, speaking ahead of the World Club Championship final between Boca Juniors and AC Milan, maintained that the wellbeing of players taking part is as important as fair play.
"You have to take care of the health of players," Blatter said.
"It was decided after talks with FIFA's medical committee that international games should not be played above 2,750 metres unless there is adequate time to acclimatise.
"We are not saying it is forbidden to play games above 2,750 metres but that there should be adequate time to acclimatise.
"Concerning FIFA international competitions, in the international calendar there is not always so much time to acclimatise (between matches)."
Blatter also confirmed that FIFA has raised objections to proposals for matches to kick off at noon during the Beijing Olympics next year.
Blatter said the governing body welcomed a report by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that air pollution in the Chinese capital was gradually improving but admitted he still reservations over the kick-off times.
He said: "It was not so much the pollution that was at the centre of our discussion but it was the heat.
"When we have to play at noontime football matches, the temperature goes up to 40c degrees."
Following objections from a number of Latin American countries, the limit was relaxed to 3,000 metres in June but FIFA have revised that original decision.
A statement on www.fifa.com said: "A recommendation has been tabled by leading international medical specialists on high altitude at a seminar in Zurich at the end of October 2007.
"The FIFA executive committee agreed that unless those involved were allowed to acclimatise, no matches in FIFA competitions would be permitted at an altitude in excess of 2,750 metres above sea level.
"Furthermore, this decision will be integrated into the regulations of all FIFA competitions with immediate effect and it was recommended that the same limit be enforced in all other international competitions."
High-altitude cities including Quito in Ecuador at 2,800 metres and La Paz in Bolivia at 3,577 metres are all affected.
Bolivia's president Evo Morales in particular had been one of the most vocal opponents of the original ban which would prevent them playing games at the Hernando Siles stadium in La Paz.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter, speaking ahead of the World Club Championship final between Boca Juniors and AC Milan, maintained that the wellbeing of players taking part is as important as fair play.
"You have to take care of the health of players," Blatter said.
"It was decided after talks with FIFA's medical committee that international games should not be played above 2,750 metres unless there is adequate time to acclimatise.
"We are not saying it is forbidden to play games above 2,750 metres but that there should be adequate time to acclimatise.
"Concerning FIFA international competitions, in the international calendar there is not always so much time to acclimatise (between matches)."
Blatter also confirmed that FIFA has raised objections to proposals for matches to kick off at noon during the Beijing Olympics next year.
Blatter said the governing body welcomed a report by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that air pollution in the Chinese capital was gradually improving but admitted he still reservations over the kick-off times.
He said: "It was not so much the pollution that was at the centre of our discussion but it was the heat.
"When we have to play at noontime football matches, the temperature goes up to 40c degrees."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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