FIFA Circular 901, 19 March 2004 — nationality change and the "clear connection" requirement

Governing-body regulation or decision

FIFA Circular 901, 19 March 2004 — nationality change and the "clear connection" requirement

FIFA · 2004-03-19

Partially retrievedenIndependent source

Supports

Disputed interpretation: The AFA capped Messi in a 2004 friendly in order to legally block Spain.
The claim that a 2004 youth friendly legally tied Messi to Argentina and blocked Spain — disputed interpretation resting on a false legal premise

Confirmed by Phase 1. The Phase 8 synthesis records that the circular is exclusively related to change of nationality and is not the provision that ties a never-capped dual-eligible player.