TOKYO: FIFA is considering bending the rules to help Japan take part in the Copa America after a quake-tsunami disaster forced it to withdraw from the event, the country's football chief says. The March 11 catastrophe has thrown Japan's J-League into disarray and five rounds of matches which were suspended are now due to be played around the same time as the the July 1-24 Copa America in Argentina. Under the current rules of world football's governing body, clubs are not obligated to free up Japanese players for the South American championship because Japan has been invited only as guests. But FIFA president Sepp Blatter is considering a one-off exceptional measure asking clubs to free up players, Japan Football Association (JFA) president Junji Ogura told Japanese media on Friday after visiting South America. The measure would apply to Japanese clubs as well as teams in Europe and elsewhere who have Japanese players. Ogura said that Argentina Football Association president Julio Grondona, who is also a senior FIFA vice president, had asked Japan to reconsider pulling out when they met Tuesday. The JFA board is expected to make a decision next Thursday. – Agence France
