Andean Community rejects FIFA decision

La Paz, May 28, 2007.- The Andean Community Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Trade rejected and asked for immediate reconsideration of FIFA’s decision to ban official international football matches in stadiums located at over 2,500 meters above sea level.   

In a Declaration approved at an enlarged meeting of the Andean Council of Foreign Ministers with the Andean Community Commission, held today in La Paz, the Ministers stressed that " FIFA’s ban will be detrimental to the four Andean Community countries:  Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru."

The Andean Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Trade asked their respective national football associations to take immediate steps to bring about FIFA’s rectification and also requested all Latin American countries to show their solidarity with the Andean countries and to ask FIFA to immediately correct that measure.