A Great Britain football team in the Olympics?

[GheeTsar]

So the British Olympic Association claim:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13854492.stm

The Scottish and Welsh FA are livid:

Scottish Football Association president George Peat told the Press Association: "I am absolutely astounded that they have put out this statement. I know nothing about any such agreement and we want nothing to do with this tournament."

Welsh FA president Phil Pritchard was equally furious, saying the FA had no right to speak on behalf of the other associations on Olympic matters.

Pritchard told the Press Association: "We are not part of any agreement. The FA have no authority to speak on our behalf - they do not represent Wales whatsoever and that's a fact.

"We have not discussed this at any time recently."

Some odd rules though - the squad will be made up of 15 under-23 players and 3 "any age" players.

If there wasn't the age restriction, I think you could make a pretty competitive team from all four lands.

EDIT - the age limit rules are apparently the Olympic rules and apply to all teams.

Also - it appears there is no legal mechanism for the other FAs to block any player from competing if they wanted to.

[Saracen]

This looks like a kind of end-run has been done around the other FAs, and that the team will be TeamGB, regardless of whether they like it or not, and that it will take part in that sense. Or certainly looks like it's a done-deal.

It also looks like it's down to individual players from the various nations to take part or not, and not for their FA's to block them. So .... it should be interesting to see whether players that are selected from nations whose FA's aren't on-board agree or refuse to be part of such a team. Seeing as most of them, on the men's team at least, will be under-23's, my guess is that most (maybe all) will jump at the chance for Olympic competition and participation.

And, in my view, it's long past due. Then again, given that I know nothing and care even less about football, why do I care?

[Steve A]

Im all for Team GB ... i personally dont see what the issue is ...

What makes me laugh the most is the fact that Swansea and now an "ENGLISH" premier league team and that Celtic and Rangers both wanted to join the "ENGLISH" premier league, i dont see any arguements from there respected FA's about that.

And sorry to state the abvious but they have absolutley no authority to stop any player from represent a Great Britsh team if they so wished ...

Lets face it, it will be best chance of any of us seeing any sort of Silverware (England included).

I find it all very childish in all honesty and people need to grow up a little...

We fight side by side in War but when it comes to football .... noooooooooooooooooo

I mean seriously WTF!!!!!!!!!

[GheeTsar]

I agree - I really don't get the attitude of the non-English FAs here, they even have it in writing that it won't affect their autonomy with FIFA.

[buildyourbox]

great britain football team = england team plus gareth bale lol

[format]

great britain football team = england team plus gareth bale lol

I reckon Darren Fletcher would be in for a shout... maybe Allan MacGregor or Craig Gordon too.


edit : nice bump :/

[pp05]

Football shouldn't be an Olympic games sport. They have the world cup for that.

[The_Wheelhouse]

Football shouldn't be an Olympic games sport. They have the world cup for that.

Most other sports in the Olympics have their own championships, the fact that football's world cup is so high profile doesn't mean that it shouldn't be in the Olympics.

[Top_gun]

The GB team probably get knocked out on penalties.

Also, considering Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales rarely qualify for major tournaments these days then the Olympics, at least, gives some of their players experience in playing in one.

Shame about the stance by the Irish, Scottish and the Welsh. Self interest, it seems, is more important than national interest.