The creation of the team has been opposed by the Football Associations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who are concerned it may compromise their individual status within Fifa.
But he said the BOA, which selects teams for the Games, has decided to press ahead with a football squad despite the opposition.
When asked last night about the opposition from the Welsh and Scots, Coe replied bluntly: “F*** em!”
And the IFA? Already f**ked presumably.
(Via Toque)
Update:
Oh dear, you may have noticed, I've changed my post since yesterday; this is starting to look messy:
THE organising committee of the London Olympics last night denied a newspaper story that Sebastian Coe said “F*** ’em” after being asked about objections from Wales and Scotland to the idea of a GB Olympic football team.
The committee said it had consulted its lawyers.
5 comments:
Intersting post, I would hate to see the individual assciations damaged by this. But obviously would like to see the IFA and FAI merge. It would b good for the clubs and the interntional players. We had Derry City down to play Wexford Youths in the FAI Leaue Cup Final (televised on Setanta) the buzz around town was brilliant. Ou team is only in the league 2 years. What fun it would be to go to Belfast or Colraine as an away fan. Come on the Youths!
It would b good for the clubs and the interntional players.
Why do you think that?
And at the minute through the Setanta Cup there is the opportunity to see NI clubs like Linfield and Glentoran play in the ROI. It works, but hasn't been a roaring success crowd-wise (and obvioulsy financially).
I think it would be good for the clubs because there would be bigger crowds, pooled TV money and more big matches, (Derry City, Dundalk etc V. any NI club).
The combined international team would be real contenders for the World Cup.
It would also create a bit of mutual understanding and respect between the two traditions on this island, association football is the most popular sport both sides of the border.
That is dispite the xenophobic GAA and the rest of the establishments best efforts to undermine soccar in the Republic.
I think it would be good for the clubs because there would be bigger crowds, pooled TV money and more big matches, (Derry City, Dundalk etc V. any NI club).
Many NI fans would have no problems theoretically with an-all Ireland league, but as I said above with one or two exceptions the present Setanta Cup has not proved a success crowd-wise. It would also mean longer travel distances and I'm not all sure that TV would be all that interested with eg Ballymena (sorry Chekov!) v Limerick on a Monday night.
Re the international "link-up"
In rugby there is one team, it, in a much smaller pool, has hardly made it a world-beater. And if success is the only criteria then NI would be better joining up with (cough!) Team GB.
It would also create a bit of mutual understanding and respect between the two traditions on this island, association football is the most popular sport both sides of the border.
You would not believe the bitterness that exists in some circles in NI towards the NI team and supporters. It is also, admitedly, recipricated in some quarters towards the ROI team. I'm off to Slovenia next week to watch my team and I really don't care (too!) much about the result because it is my team. I would not feel anything like the same way (at the present moment) about an all-Ireland team; it would be like asking a Scotsman to agree to linking up his international team with the English.
I can understand the pride you have in your team, and I have nothing against there being two international teams. I always cheer on NI unless they are playing the republic.
An all-Ireland league is quite feasable. Welsh teams compete in the Engish League, yet Wales still has a seperate national team.
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