Soccer-Bolivia to fight FIFA ban on high-altitude matches

LA PAZ, May 28 (Reuters) Bolivian President Evo Morales vowed today to lead an international campaign against FIFA's ban on high-altitude soccer matches, saying it amounts to discrimination.

The world soccer body's decision to set a limit of 2,500 metres above sea level for international games is a blow to Bolivia, which enjoys the advantage of playing home World Cup qualifiers at 3,600 metres in La Paz.

''This is not only a ban on Bolivia, it's a ban on the universality of sports,'' Morales told reporters after an emergency meeting with his cabinet and soccer officials.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter yesterday said that the FIFA executive committee had decided to act after a proposal from the medical committee, adding that play at such heights was neither healthy nor fair.

Leftist Morales told reporters he will send an envoy to Switzerland to press FIFA to reconsider the ban and called on other countries affected by the measure to join his campaign.

''We cannot allow discrimination in soccer, we cannot allow ... exclusion in the world of sports,'' said Morales, a keen soccer fan.

Bolivia's national team has enjoyed historic wins over both Brazil and Argentina in the past in La Paz and finished as runners-up to Brazil when it hosted the Copa America in 1997.

FIFA's decision would also affect Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.

REUTERS MS KP2320