The Olympics don't officially start until tomorrow, but there's already been plenty of action in the soccer world.

This morning, in a decision that may have far-reaching implications for the international sport, the Court for Arbitration in Sport (CAS) handed down a surprise victory for three clubs that had challenged the release of their players to the Olympic tournament.

Barcelona, Schalke and Werder Bremen had all held players back from participating in the Olympic Games, arguing that the Olympic Games were not part of the international calendar. Last week, a FIFA-appointed judge dismissed that notion, setting up the appeal to the CAS. And today, the CAS agreed, saying that FIFA's postion was untenable.

In an official statement released on the CAS' website, the CAS wrote, "there is no specific decision of the Fifa executive committee establishing the obligation for the clubs to release players under 23 for this tournament".

The decision effectively overturned what the CAS itself termed as "a long lasting and undisputed practice which had become a customary law for the clubs."

The decision means that all three clubs do not have to allow their players to participate in the Olympic Games.

Moreover, clubs may now choose to recall some of their players currently in Beijing and if the players fail to report, they would be in violation of their contract.

Lionel Messi, the Barcelona star at the center of much of the controversy, is currently in China with Argentina and wass expected to start the opener against Ivory Coast. His status is now uncertain.


On the home front, the U.S. Women's national team got off to a rocky start, giving away two goals in the first five minutes of play in dropping their opener to Norway 2-0 at Qinhuangdao.

Leni Kaurin scored the opener after just a minute when Hope Solo came out and failed to collect a cross, colliding with defender Lori Chalupny in the process. It was a howler by Solo, who is under intense scrutiny at the Games because of her comments following the USA's elimination in the 2007 WWC at the hands of Brazil.

Three minutes later, Kate Markgraf gifted Norway its second, with a perfect back pass to opponent Melissa Wiik that beat her own back line and left Solo stranded.

The Americans never recovered, and played out a stuttering, listless game devoid of any composure.

The U.S. defense essentially sunk its own team today, and this is troubling because the back line is arguably the most experienced segment of the American team. Despite that, there was no push at all during the game by the American women to reclaim that lost ground: Players looked tired and adrift, and more often than not afraid to take the matters into their own hands.

Abby Wambach's pre-tournament loss (broken leg) is surely a handicap, but as these women are essentially full-time professionals. This team has to come up with some explanation as to why the ten other play makers and scorers on the team did next to nothing to recover from the dreadful start.

Because of the weakness of women's Olympic soccer, despite the loss the Americans are still expected to advance: They face Japan next, who rallied early in the day to a 2-2 draw with New Zealand.

ALSO: Our buddies at the SBJ have sent a reporter to cover the USA women. The verdict? Where's the press? Good stuff after the jump.

AND: In an article that is more notable for what it doesn't say than what it does, the Sacramento Bee writes about the WPL. Take a close read: You'll see despite some grand claims, no details are offered in this unintentionally illuminating piece.

Best comment: The claim that "[WUSA] failed because it had too much money." (That gem from Jerry Zanelli, WPSL commissioner.)