The president of football's governing body FIFA, Joseph Blatter, on Thursday said that attendance at the Olympic football tournament had reached an all-time high.

He said that after the semi-finals 1.9 million spectators had watched the games, with men's matches drawing an average of 41,900, while the women's matches were watched by 26,600 on average.

With the finals and bronze medal matches still outstanding, it was a near certainty that the 2-million barrier would be broken.

Asked why the attendance was higher when the competition was played outside Europe, Blatter said: "In Europe they are pampered by the big clubs."