Zürich, 17 March 2000 - The FIFA Emergency Committee has decided via circular letter to reduce the number of days for South American footballers playing abroad to be released for their 2002 World Cup qualifying matches on 28 and 29 March 2000 from five to four days.

Consequently, the players in question will be available to play any matches for their club up to and including Saturday, 25 March before leaving for South America. They must, however, return to the club immediately after contesting their international qualifier. Any players who are not bound to play for their club on 25 March must still be released for five days before the international match, as stipulated in Art. 38 of the Regulations governing the Status and Transfer of Players.

As already announced, the FIFA Executive Committee will discuss the option of shortening the period of release for players, at its meeting in Zurich on 23 and 24 March 2000, whenever a World Cup qualifier has been set on a date reserved for friendly matches in keeping with the international calendar.

Courtesy FIFA