Nolympics

Fri, April 17 2009

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The IFA together with the Welsh and Scottish Associations remain opposed to a GB Olympic Team for 2010.

The deadline for a decision has been set by FIFA for May 31 but it is almost certain that the Associations will not be railroaded into committing to an Olympic Team. British Olympic Association chief executive Andy Hunt reckons a decision to not have Team GB would be a travesty.

Hunt has said it is conceivable the three other home nations could agree to an English-only team, or for FIFA to do so.

The IFA and their counterparts have made their position clear. In a letter to FIFA they completely oppose football as an Olympic sport in the first instance, citing the Euros, World Cup and Copa America as having much more prestige than the Olympics. The BOA also wish it to be limited to an U-23 representation which the IFA, SFA and WFA have further added is discriminatory. Asides from all this there is the argument that clubs could lose players at a vital part of the season. Team Norn Iron, maybe. Team GB? Forget it.

It is understood the English FA are positioning themselves as Team GB with Fabio Capello laughably being cited as a potential hero alongside an even older Jimmy Page to celebrate another Gold Medal. It is unlikely there will be any agreement from the other three Associations or the supporters of any of those international teams as frankly, we couldn't care less. Football is football is football.

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