BERLIN (Germany): Male players born in 1997 can play at the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics next year although they have officially exceeded the tournament age limit, the ruling football body FIFA said on Monday.
FIFA said it had informed member federations accordingly of the recommendation first made by a working group and which requires final approval from the International Olympic Committee.
The Olympic men’s tournament is an under-23 event although each team can field three older players. The women’s tournament has no age restriction.
The Games were postponed by one year because of the coronavirus pandemic, meaning that players born in 1997 would have been too old.
But FIFA decided that those who could have played this year can also do so in 2021.
German Olympic men’s team coach Stefan Kuntz welcomed the decision, saying “I am happy for the lads because they achieved qualification by placing second at the under-21 Euros in 2019.” (Source: DPA)
