The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has decided to limit the number of naturalised players in the same national team for the competitions under their responsibility.

A national federation, as from now, has no more rights to have in its national selection more than one naturalised player having previously worn the uniform of another national team.

The FIVB Board of Administration gathered this week at its headquarters has taken this decision on Thursday, following a long debate to avoid in the future meeting other cases like that of Croatia that have lined four former international Russian players naturalised Croatians who played at the last women’s World Cup 1999 in Japan.

The measure recommended by the Legal Commission of the FIVB takes immediate effect and shall therefore be valid for the forthcoming important international competitions, like the World League, the World Grand Prix, the last Olympic Qualification tournaments (men and women) and
the Sydney Games.

The FIVB Board of Administration, has moreover, confirmed the suspension for one full year, the players of the French Junior Men’s team for their behaviour on the podium following the World Championship in Thailand last August.

Winners of the silver medal, behind gold medallist Russia and in front of bronze medallist Brazil, the French have turned their back to the official tribune to protest the suspension of one of their players for the final. The player was suspended for having had indelicate behaviour toward a women journalist from the Thai television.

Apart from the suspension of these Juniors, the French Federation has been fined with a sum of 10,000 Swiss francs.
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Communication Department – Contact: Carlos Sanchez
Tel.: +41.21.345.3535 – Fax. +41.21.345.3545
E-mail: communication@fivb.ch – Website: http://www.fivb.org