BEIJING, July 10 -- FIFA will issue guidelines today to calm growing tension between clubs and countries over the release of players for the Olympic soccer tournament.

    FIFA president Sepp Blatter, an International Olympic Committee member, is preparing to rule on whether players must report for national duty if selected for next month's Beijing Games, which runs in direct conflict with the start of the European season.

    FIFA declined to comment yesterday but said an official statement from the president's office is expected in the next 24 hours.

    Blatter has been an IOC member since 1999 and is a strong supporter of the Olympic tournament.

    "For any player, the Olympic football tournament represents a highlight of his career and I hope that a solution can be found," Blatter said in February.

    Current FIFA advice obliges clubs to release players 23 and under, but allows them to stop older players taking part. Each of the 16 competing teams can have three over-age players on its roster.

    The informal rule is being tested by two German clubs after the announcement of the Brazil squad.