All professional soccer players may be eligible for future Olympic Games competition, IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch said Thursday.
Samaranch told reporters he had discussed the current Olympic limitations of three players over the age of 23 per country with world football governing body FIFA.
"In football today there are many excellent players that are under 23 but for me that is not enough," said Samaranch, who has overseen the inclusion of top pros in basketball, ice hockey and tennis during his 20-year tenure at IOC president.
"I spoke to Mr. (Sepp) Blatter, the president of the FIFA. I think Mr. Blatter is looking forward to us (being) ready to consider to improve the quality of the football for Olympic program," Samaranch said.
The IOC president said that Blatter told him "all the great players" could compete if the Olympics are held in July."
Samaranch said the 90,000-plus crowd which watched Italy defeat Australia 1-0 in the opening game of the soccer tournament in Melbourne on Wednesday night was evidence of the popularity of Olympic soccer with the spectators.