FIFA may raise age limit for men’s football event at Tokyo Olympics

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) could increase the age limit of players taking part in the rearranged next summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan from 23 to 24.

The sport’s world governing body has recommended moving the boundary to accommodate players eligible for this year’s Games, which were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Players born on or after January 1, 1997 will be allowed to play.

Though the plan is yet to be approved by the FIFA Bureau.

The Bureau is a reduced version of FIFA’s decision-making Council.

The tournament is due to start before the opening ceremony on July 23, 2021.

Meanwhile, the three allocated over-aged players for the participating countries that qualified for the football event of the Olympics will still be allowed for pick by their respective countries for the Games.

The women’s competition at next year’s Games has no age limit.

Meanwhile, FIFA has also recommended calling off all men and women’s international games scheduled for June 2020 because of the ongoing crisis.