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BARCA TAKE MESSI CASE TO CAS
Messi - Olympic call-up.
Barcelona have filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a bid to stop Lionel Messi playing for Argentina at the Olympics Games.
A judge from the FIFA players' status committee, Slim Aloulou, on Wednesday ruled clubs must release all players aged 23 and under for the tournament, but that position has not been accepted by three clubs, with Barcelona joining Schalke and Werder Bremen in taking their case against FIFA to the CAS.
Both German clubs have lost players to Brazil for the duration of the tournament with Bremen playmaker Diego and Schalke defender Rafinha in Dunga's squad.
"The CAS has registered an appeal from FC Barcelona against the decision made by the Single Judge of the FIFA Players' Status Committee regarding the release of players for the Olympic Games," the CAS said in a statement.
"This appeal will be handled together with the appeals filed by FC Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen against the same FIFA decision.
"The CAS will deliver its final ruling on or before 6 August 2008."
The Olympic football tournament begins on August 7.
