Home Nations Olympic Playoff?

roodboy

Olympic football play-offs call
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7718728.stm

Tory leader David Cameron has suggested a football team to represent Britain at the 2012 London Olympics could be decided by a home nations tournament.

Mr Cameron said a play-off could decide which of the UK's four national teams represented Britain at the Games.

The football governing bodies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all opposed to the notion of a combined Great Britain team.

They fear the implications for their own futures as separate entities.

Britain has not had a football team at the Olympics since 1960 because of concerns a combined British team could affect the status of individual nations within football's governing body Fifa.

Mr Cameron told BBC Scotland's Politics Show there was a need for one national team when it came to the Olympics.

'Daft' proposal

"Maybe the answer is to have a home tournament, see who wins and that team goes forward, but for the Olympics we've got to settle this so there is a representative team," he said.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has expressed his determination to reach a deal over entering men's and women's British football teams at the London games.

The Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland football bodies have opposed any such move in case it affects their international status.

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said: "What we're talking about in the Olympics is an under-21 team and the idea that, in any sense, we should risk the future of Scottish international football for the sake of participation in an under-21 tournament in the Olympics, I think it simply daft."

The first minister urged all parties to stick with the Scottish Football Association's position.

He added: "They take some knocks from time to time, but they know infinitely more about the workings of Fifa than David Cameron, Gordon Brown, or even Alex Salmond."

1871_Biscuit

Looks like Northern Ireland is going to be representing GB then. Scrap that, no one votes tory.

roodboy

To be honest I think Scot, Wales and N Ire are making a big fuss about nothing - why should sending a combined GB Team to the Olympics as a one off threaten the existence of the seperate FAs that have existed for over 100 years?

Sarni

FIFA are apparently against it and would be able to ban all four FAs if it happened.

Cling Bak

Because FIFA could force the 4 countries to combine and have a Great Britain team in all International matches. Scotland, NI and Wales are proud of their identities and want to be seperate, so not entering to the Olympics is the safest way to keep it like this.

1871_Biscuit

Bollocks. FIFA never follow through with anything.

roodboy

On what basis could FIFA could do this? Sounds like a load of bollocks to me - it would never hold up in court

If Lichtenstein and Andorra have teams then how can anyone complain about Wales and Northern Ireland

1871_Biscuit

Whats stopping all the home nations entering different Olympic teams?

x42bn6

Because Andorra and Liechtenstein are actually countries (as are the likes of Malta, San Marino, Monaco and heck, the Vatican City)?

Technically, the home nations are states but not recognised countries, although the sum of their parts, Great Britain, is.

roodboy

I dont agree with what you say here but I cant be arsed to get into debate about what constitutes being a country

rednev

Because they are not recognised by IOC as countries.