FIFA gave the green light on Saturday for a British football team at the 2012 London Olympics, saying it would not have any effect on the individual status of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have voiced concern that taking part as as Britain would compromise their ability to compete in future international tournaments as separate teams.
But at its executive committee meetings in Tokyo, FIFA insisted it would not.
"The executive committee confirmed that the participation in the 2012 London Olympic Games of a single team representing Great Britain would not affect the existing individual status of the four British football associations," it said.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter added that the ball was now in the hands of the British associations, who will report back to the governing body in March.
"In FIFA, we have no problem with that because four British associations are identified in FIFA statutes as being four different entities," he stressed.
"And now for the Olympic Games, they have to play in one entity. The ball is now in their turf. We expect a solution that will be presented to us for the month of March."
So, that's that, I suppose.
It doesn't force the IFA, SFA or WFA to submit players- their existing status won't be affected by Team GB (won't remove the resentment felt at the existance of the four independent associations by, in particular the CONCACAF countries, but that's another, unrelated subject).
This whole debate, considering the minimal amount of interest felt by most British football supporters for the Olympic Tournment, has been based largely on politically opportunistic and populist hyperbole; sample these two latest reactions:
1. England coach Fabio Capello, whose contract expires in 2012, has also expressed an interest (to manage the team), saying it was his "dream."
2. Gordon Brown said a British Olympic football team was one of his Christmas wishes.
I repeat, it's a Mickey-Mouse tournament that nobody cares about, alleged "Dreams" and "Christmas wishes" notwithstanding.
16 comments:
And all four fan associations are opposed to Team GB.
I seem to be under spam attack here, so until further notice comment moderation is on.
Nice to know I've had an effect;)
I was previously lukewarm to it, but since there are now masses of evidence against the idea being in any way used against the four associations for ordinary purposes, I am now in support.
It's fairly unsurprising that many fans are being quite parochial about it - playing with the 'auld enemy' and all that - but that's just silly. It's a one-off, it'll be a bit of fun and it will be have a roundly positive impact on British football.
Imagine being under "spam attack" because you want, or at least are not opposed, a team GB!
How pathetic that the anti-British bigots would rather attack you than debate.
I'd put a gin and tonic or three on the March "solution" to be a team of 11 Englishmen with the other three simply ignoring the whole thing (as most fans will, as you said).
I loved the FAW's reaction to Gordon Brown trying to stick his spoon though, something along the lines of "Gordon Brown should ask the First Minister of Wales if he wants us to compete"
"How pathetic that the anti-British bigots would rather attack you than debate."
I'm keeping an open-mind on who's responsible; there were over a dozen, pretty hardcore abusive messages originating from a Scottish address left early Saturday morning and yesterday evening. There was also, rather bizarrely, a copy n paste of a Hamilton Council meeting.
Greg,
I've got to admit I'm reasonably apathetic about it; for me anyway, it simply wouldn't have the same emotional impact as the British ^ Irish Lions, for example. There is a threat to the integrity of the four associations, but Team GB won't affect that one way or the other.
HF,
There will be notionally a Team GB, but I agree with you I doubt very much that the other associations will supply players or backroom staff for it.
it will be have a roundly positive impact on British football.
There's no such thing as British football, that's kind of the whole point.
Getting bored with this now.
Here's hoping that we have given the English their independence by then and have our own team competing.
God help the Welsh!
>>There was also, rather bizarrely, a copy n paste of a Hamilton Council meeting.<<
Don't know how that got in sorry.;¬) Seriously though there is no Hamilton council, Hamilton is the HQ of South Lanarkshire council.
Anyone but team GB
Don't know how that got in sorry.;¬) Seriously though there is no Hamilton council, Hamilton is the HQ of South Lanarkshire council.
I've tried to dig it back out, with no success; it was details of an housing/planning application and Hamilton was definitely mentioned!
The most bizzare one I saw was the extremely detailed dictionary of sexual practices!
HF
Yes, that comment had to be saved.
For research purposes.
Obviously;)
I think someone may've been trying to send me a subliminal message with that planning application:
http://linlithgow-libdems.blogspot.com/2008/12/nat-council-leader-embroiled-in.html
Any connection between Hamilton and West Lothian?
Aye The Bellshill by-pass connecting the M74 to the A8/M8.
Post a Comment