Monday, August 7, 2000
Football News Online

Lazaridis gets Olympic call-up

Stan Lazaridis, the Birmingham City winger, could miss the first 12 Games of the season after being called up to play for Australia at the Sydney Olympic Games. Each nation is allowed three "over-aged" players, those over the age limit of 23.

The other two over-age players who will compete for Australia in Sydney are Mark Viduka of Leeds United, Paul Okon of Middlesbrough. If Australia make the Olympic final, the players will miss the first 12 weeks of the Premiership.

Trevor Francis, Birmingham City's manager, said: "This has come as a surprise. We don't want to be without Stan for any period of time let alone a number of weeks."