FIFA rejects Fluminense World Cup player request

Rio de Janeiro, May 21 (IANS) Football's governing body FIFA has rejected Fluminense's request to play Brazil internationals Fred and Diego Cavalieri in Saturday's domestic Serie A match against Bahia.

The Rio de Janeiro club said Tuesday it would appeal against Cavalieri's exclusion on the grounds the goalkeeper is only a standby in Luiz Felipe Scolari's World Cup squad, reports Xinhua.

FIFA has decreed that players named in World Cup squads, including those on reserve lists, are ineligible for their clubs in the week before national teams gather for the June 12-July 13 tournament.

The exception are players involved in Saturday's UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in Lisbon.

Brazil's squad will meet May 26 at their training base in Granja Comary, about 100km north of Rio de Janeiro. Fluminense are currently fifth in Brazil's top-flight standings with nine points from five matches.