Football's world governing body Fifa has declared that European football clubs are not obliged to release African players for the final round of the 2004 Olympic qualifying series.

Earlier this week, various French clubs refused to release players for the African qualifying programme because they said the matches were not part of the international calendar drawn up by Fifa.

The final round of Africa's Athens 2004 qualifiers, which start this weekend, continue periodically until March next year, yet Fifa says that European clubs can choose not to release their players for the games.

"We have informed the clubs and the national associations that those dates for Olympic qualifiers are outside the dates of the harmonised calendar," a Fifa spokesman said.

"The clubs are therefore not obliged to release their players."

The declaration will aid all of Europe's clubs, but it was those in France who were instrumental in trying to hang onto their players for crucial games.

With the Olympic qualifiers in Africa clashing with their league and cup games, several French clubs asked Fifa for a ruling earlier this week.

Meanwhile, second division Nancy simply refused to release three of their African players for this weekend's games.

Yet their Ivory Coast striker Francois Zoko left for Saturday's qualifier against Mali without permission and Nancy - whose general secretary Gerard Parentin stated the player would be punished on his return - have now demanded the Ivorian federation send the player back immediately.

"We have given the Ivorian federation notice to send the player Francois Zoko to Nancy and have asked Fifa to intervene," the club said in a statement.

First division clubs Sochaux, Lille and Metz had all sided with Nancy's stance on releasing their players earlier this week.