World soccer governing body to reexamine altitude ban

Updated：2007-06-27 From：Xinhuanet

QUITO, June 26 (Xinhua) -- World soccer's governing body the International Federation of Football Associations' (FIFA) executive committee will meet on Wednesday to reconsider on international matches held at over 2,500 above sea level, Ecuador's Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda said on Tuesday.

FIFA's President Joseph Blatter will meet the FIFA executive committee tomorrow in Zurich and propose they reconsider the decision to bar World Cup qualifying matches in the cities that are over 2,500 meters," the minister Espinosa said speaking from Zurich, where she had gone to discuss the matter with Blatter.

She added that FIFA would also bring together a panel of experts on the topic in Zurich in October.

Andean nations objected strongly to FIFA's late May bar and won the support of the regional governing body, the South American Football Federation (Conmebol), which on June 15 called for the cancellation of the measure.

In May, Ecuador issued a diplomatic note protesting to a FIFA measure that it described as "unjust and discriminatory".

Espinosa spoke to Blatter on Tuesday on behalf of all Andean Community of Nations foreign ministers.