WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : Mexico Has a Striking Problem : Group E: Goalkeeper Campos wants to continue moonlighting on offense, but FIFA isn’t sure.

Mexican goalkeeper Jorge Campos and his national team’s coach Miguel Mejia Baron are posing a striking problem for FIFA.

Baron, who has switched Campos from goal to a striker’s role during qualifying matches for Mexico, indicated he would continue to do so in the World Cup.

But the announcement sent FIFA, the sport’s governing body, into something of a spin with officials scouring their rules to determine whether they could allow the switch.

Reports filtered back to Baron that FIFA might not allow him to bring on a new goalkeeper and push Campos upfield.

Speaking at a news conference at the RFK Memorial Stadium in Washington, Baron said: “As far as I am concerned I can pick any of my squad to play where I want.

“If the rules have changed, I will expect to be notified of this by (FIFA general secretary) Sepp Blatter officially.”

A FIFA official said on Saturday that while the World Cup rules were still being clarified, Campos would probably be allowed to play in the field if Mexico could provide him with a regular team jersey bearing his official number.

Campos would not be permitted to play in a teammate’s shirt with the wrong number.

“It’s a logistical problem rather than anything to do with the laws of the game,” said FIFA press officer Andreas Herren.

“Campos played in this role in the preliminaries, so from a law point of view it is feasible. But World Cup regulations say a player must use his numbered shirt throughout the tournament.

“We are investigating and it may be if Mexico can provide him with another jersey with his number on he will be allowed to change positions during a game.”

Campos has played as a striker twice for Mexico and has also been switched from goalkeeper to a forward position during a match several times.

“I am not sure what I shall do,” said the goalkeeper, one of the most colourful characters at the World Cup. “I may play in goal for the whole match, or I may come out for five or 10 minutes or longer. It depends on the coach.”

Campos, 27, once played up front for a full season with his club Universidad Nacional and finished as their leading goal scorer.

“It is my dream to play in attack, but I know I have to play in goal too,” said the former Acapulco surfer whose fluorescent green-and-pink goalkeeping jerseys have added to his reputation as a maverick. He often makes unscheduled excursions into attack as well to boost his team’s offense.