Inconvenient guest here to stay

BEIJING (Reuters) - Soccer often seems to be in the wrong company at the Olympics, but like an unwelcome guest it is reluctant to leave the party.

One of the few sports to prevent most of its top players from participating, soccer was for much of the time cut off from the real action in China with most matches played hundreds of kilometers from Beijing.

FIFA, the sport's governing body, has limited the contest to under-23 teams with three over-age players allowed per side to prevent the Olympic tournament rivaling its own World Cup.

Many critics felt this created a hybrid event and that soccer should either leave the Games altogether or scrap the limit.

Despite the controversy, the tournament, which finished with Argentina beating Nigeria 1-0 in the final, pulled in a record 2.14 million spectators for the 58 matches in the men's and women's tournaments -- an average of around 36,000.

It also boasted two of the biggest names in any sport with Argentina bringing Messi and Brazil including Ronaldinho as an over-age player.

Messi's presence was in doubt after a prolonged tug-of-war between Argentina and his club Barcelona.

On the day before Argentina's opening game, Barcelona won an appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against a FIFA rule obliging clubs to release all under-23 players -- including Messi -- for the Games.

But the Spanish club agreed to let him stay in China after making a deal with the Argentine association.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said criticism of Olympic soccer came mainly from Europe and pointed out that, apart from Barcelona in 1992 and Athens in 2004, the tournament had been played to packed houses since the under-23 format was introduced.

"In Europe, they are pampered with football," he said, adding that he would propose the same format being used in London in 2012.

"Ask the organizers in Atlanta, or in Sydney or in Beijing if they don't like having football."

Blatter said he hoped that Britain would work out a way of fielding a team in the London Games.

The football associations of Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have said they will not take part, fearing that doing so could set a precedent which might result in Britain fielding a united side in the European championships and World Cup.

PELE REGRETS

Certainly, the tournament is taken far more seriously in South America and Africa.

Brazil were so intent on winning the tournament for the first time that they brought in senior coach Dunga to lead the side. Their 3-0 semi-final defeat to Argentina could bring about his downfall when they return home.

Argentina benefited from having a young senior team with Messi, Fernando Gago and Sergio Aguero among the regulars who qualified for the Games age-limit.

In an online poll organized by the Argentine newspaper Clarin, 63 per cent of readers said the win over Brazil was the most enjoyable game the national team has played in a decade.

The footballers also proved to be hugely popular with the other athletes.

Brazil, who in past tournaments have made their own accommodation arrangements, this time stayed in the Olympic village when in Beijing and Ronaldinho's presence caused chaos.

"There's a bit of a bun fight at meal times but everyone is helping out," said midfielder Diego as he explained how the players formed a circle around Ronaldinho to protect him from autograph and photo requests in the canteen.

Many players considered the experience the highlight of their careers.

"You cannot imagine what it's like when you enter the Olympic Village," said Argentina's playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme.

"We had the good fortune to stay there and meet athletes from all over the world. For me it was incredible and I fully enjoyed it. Never before had I experienced anything quite like it."

Pele, who in 2004 became the first Brazilian to carry the Olympic torch, said that missing out on the Games, off-limits to professionals in his playing days, was one of his regrets.

"If I had played just once, we would have that medal," he said. "It's one of the great frustrations of my career."

(Editing by Keith Weir)