Olympic Football Age Limit: As the Covid-19 pandemic postponed the Tokyo Olympics 2020 to 2021, take a look at the new age rule enforced in football.
As the Covid-19 pandemic postponed or delayed every major sporting event, Tokyo Olympics was no exception. With the world suffering from the horrific virus, the Summer Olympics of 2020 was postponed to 2021. As the rules of eligibility for various sports are fixed, a delayed tournament would mean, many elite sporting stars missing out from the grandest stage.
But this is not the case for football, which is one of the most popular team sport of the Summer Olympics. Given that there is no-age restriction in women’s football, it is not the same case for men’s as the age restriction is 23.
However, with new issues comes new solutions. FIFA ensures that for the first time in 24 years, some players above 23-years could represent their national team in the football tournament.
Olympic Football Age Limit: What is the new age rule?
FIFA recently revealed that the players who are born on or after January 1, 1997 are eligible along with 3 over-aged players to represent their national side in the sport of football. Olympics men’s football tournament have been an under-23 event since 1992. Fourteen of the Sixteen teams have qualified for the Olympic games and the required two spots are to be filled by the CONCACAF teams.
Perhaps the most high-profiled player affected by FIFA’s new age decision is Brazilian forward Gabriel Jesus, who was born on April 3, 1997 and thus would have been an over-aged player if it wasn’t for FIFA changing the rules.
But now, interestingly Brazil could include him in the team and opt for 3 different over-aged players, to defend their Olympic Gold Medal. Having said that, it remains to be seen which footballing giants come to the Olympic stage to represent their nation.
Salah To Play Japan Olympics
The new change is set to see Egypt call up Mohamed Salah for the forthcoming Olympics in Tokyo. The county’s federation has asserted its desire to deploy Salah at the games, leaving Liverpool devoid of the player’s services for the start of PL 2021-22.
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