Kompany Given Olympic Release

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Bundesliga: Hamburger HSV - Bayer Leverkusen, Kompany

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A compromise has been arrived at between the Belgian FA and the Bundesliga side whereby Kompany will split his time between his countries international friendly this Wednesday and Hamburg’s Emirates Cup games in early August.  

He will then be released for Belgium’s group stage games before joining up with HSV in time for the start of the new Bundesliga season.  

"We have reached a compromise and can therefore accommodate the wishes of our player and, at the same time, get assurances from the Belgian FA that he will be back to us punctually at the start of the Bundesliga season while being able to take part in the whole of pre-season" Hamburg chairman Bernd Hoffmann explained.

Kompany is one of several high-profile Bundesliga players caught up in a complicated club versus country row with regards the Olympics.

FIFA have said publicly that it is "mandatory" for clubs to release players aged 23 and under for the Olympics, but several clubs in Germany have questioned ruling, and the DFL (German Football League) claims to have received assurances from the world’s governing body that Bundesliga clubs will not be punished for preventing their players from traveling to the Far East.

Fellow Bundesliga club Schalke have recently seen their full back Rafinha defy the club’s wishes not to join up with the Brazilian Olympic squad with club officials threatening legal action. 

"We are not interested in an argument with Rafinha and I can understand that it is his dream to play at the Olympics, but the interests of the club always come first" manager Andreas Müller told the club's website.

"He has listened to his Brazilian colleagues and has been wrongly advised in doing so."

Meanwhile, Bremen have approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a move which they hope will see midfielder Diego forced to return to them.

Mathew Burt