Barca insist they have the go-ahead to play Rivaldo

Barcelona insist they can to play Rivaldo in their Champions League qualifying tie against Wisla Krakow on Wednesday, despite the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF)'s assertion that they have not released him.

"We have all the appropriate permission to allow Rivaldo to play against Krakow," Barcelona sports director Anton Parera was quoted as saying by the Spanish press on Tuesday.

The CBF said on Monday that they would insist that Rivaldo play for his country in Thursday's friendly international against Panama and would complain to UEFA if he did not report to the team on Tuesday.

Parera said FIFA had supported Barcelona's position and had helped ensure that the player would be able to play for his club in the first leg of the third qualifying round.

"FIFA have been in permanent contact with the German, Italian, Spanish and Brazilian federations to try and encourage the negotiations," he said.

"Without a declaration of war and without threatening declarations the matter has been resolved and our interests have been respected," Parera added.

The Catalan club also claimed that the Brazilian federation had given their permission for the release of the player.

"Barcelona and the Brazilian Football Federation have reached an agreement that will allow Rivaldo to travel to Poland to play the crucial match against Krakow," read a statement on its official website.

And despite Brazil's protestations, it seems likely that Rivaldo will leave for Poland with Barcelona later on Tuesday.

He will miss the Panama match, but will then immediately travel to Brazil to prepare for their World Cup qualifier against Paraguay on August 15.

European clubs are becoming increasingly exasperated at having to release South American players to play for their respective national teams.

Last week AC Milan said they would not be signing any more South American players because they have too many international commitments.