No shame in FIFA!

Bolivian President Evo Morales announced Tuesday his government would present a lawsuit against the leadership of the International Football Federation (FIFA) for denying to celebrate football matches in very high places, which especially affects the city of La Paz.

In a press conference in Palacio Quemado Morales said the ban to football matches at more than 9,000 feet over sea level affects National Stadium Hernando Siles, a host for international soccer competitions, among others.

Morales said he requested leaders of the Bolivian National Professional Football Association and the Bolivian Football Federation to retake a campaign in favour of universalizing the sport.

Morales also said he talked Tuesday with his Paraguayan counterpart Nicanor Duarte, who told him he would request the Paraguayan Football Federation to reconsider its position of not playing in La Paz for the 2010 World Cup classifying round.

Morales was also thankful for the position of the Chilean Football Federation that decided to face Bolivia in June, at the National Stadium Hernando Siles, which is at almost 11,811 feet over sea level.Argentinean former football star Diego Armando Maradona also criticized the FIFA decision saying that "it is ridiculous, shameful and nonsense prohibition."

"I would recommend FIFA to let Bolivia to play where Bolivia would like to play; it is its own right, just like Argentina and Brazil."The Bolivian Football Federation expects to protest for the prohibition before a FIFA congress in May.