The international soccer governing body FIFA will issue guidelines to calm growing tension between clubs and countries over the release of players for the Beijing Olympics.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said Thursday that FIFA is preparing guidelines to rule on whether players must report for national duty if selected for next month's Beijing Games, which run in direct conflict with the start of the European season.

Current FIFA rules require clubs to release players 23 and under, but allow them to withhold older players. Each of the 16 competing teams can have three overage players on its roster.