Soccer: Club prohibited from fielding woman player

MEXICO CITY - Mexican second division soccer club Celaya has been refused permission by the sport's world governing body to field woman striker Maribel Dominguez.

Celaya agreed terms last week with Dominguez, 27, who played at the Olympic Games in Athens this year, in a move which split Mexican soccer and sparked a national debate.

But Fifa today said it would not accept Dominguez playing in a men's professional league.

"The executive committee stressed once again that there must be a clear separation between men's and women's football," a Fifa statement said.

"This is laid down in league football and in international matches by the existence of gender-specific competitions, and the laws of the game and Fifa's regulations do not provide for any exceptions."

Dominguez, who stands 1.60m and weighs 54kg, has played in the United States. Mexico does not have a women's professional league.

- REUTERS