LA PAZ, Jan 13: World football governing body FIFA have fixed an adaptation period for players ahead of matches played at altitude, Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) president Carlos Chavez said on Saturday.

Concerned about the effect of playing at altitude on players FIFA last month banned all matches it sanctions at more than 2,750 metres “without acclimatization”, relaxing its earlier limit of 2,500 metres.

Chavez said that under FIFA’s new directive, a three-day adaptation period was needed for matches at 2,500m above sea level.

“For matches above 2,750m, a period of adaptation of a week is obligatory and above 3,000m the rule will be not to play the match, except with a period of acclimatisation of at least two weeks,” he added.

Chavez insisted however: “This decision is absolutely not applicable.”

And the South American football federation have demanded that FIFA review their ban on matches being played at altitude.

The Bolivan capital La Paz is situated at 3,600m. High altitude is known to cause lack of oxygen, cold and dehydration, leading to breathlessness, nausea, dizziness and fatigue, and strenuous sport such as football can make the symptoms worse.—AFP