FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the decision to ban games more than 8,200 feet above sea level was made today after a review by the medical team for world soccer's governing body.

Bolivia has held World Cup qualifiers at an altitude of about 11,810 feet at its capital La Paz. There has been criticism that Bolivia's advantage is not only unfair, but also dangerous for the players' health.

Earlier this year, Brazilian club Flamengo said it would not play again at altitude after several players needed oxygen during a game staged at nearly 13,120 feet against Bolivian team Real Potosi.

Peru also has stadiums above 9,840 feet.

Speaking after a meeting of FIFA's executive committee, Blatter also reiterated his full support in South Africa's ability to hold the 2010 World Cup.

"I was fighting to bring the World Cup to Africa," he said. "Now, I am not fighting, I am confident we are doing it."

Blatter noted that the same objections arose from European and Latin America nations when the United States held the World Cup in 1994.

"People said then that Americans didn't know what football was, but we taught them," Blatter said. "This is not the first time we have organized a World Cup."

Six South African government ministers will meet with Blatter and other top FIFA officials on Wednesday, ahead of the FIFA World Congress being held Wednesday and Thursday in Zurich.

Blatter said he and other top FIFA officials plan to visit South Africa from June 16-18 to check on the country's progress in upgrading its infrastructure.

Five of the 10 South African stadiums being built or upgraded for the 2010 World Cup are supposed to be finished by December 2008, but it is uncertain whether those deadlines will be met.

In other news from the executive committee's meeting:

— Blatter welcomed Manchester United's decision to cancel a friendly scheduled for July 27 in Malaysia due to concerns it would distract from the Asian Cup, the region's flagship tournament July 7-29 to be held jointly in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

— FIFA approved a match in honor of former South African president Nelson Mandela on July 18 — his 89th birthday. Former African players will face a World team in Cape Town, South Africa.

— Blatter appealed for "dialogue, not confrontation" in FIFA's ongoing dispute with Europe's most powerful clubs over limits on the number of foreign players per team and compensation for injuries during national service.