Filed under: Other Sports, Football, Olympics, England Football
You'd think that anyone announcing a "historic agreement" would make sure there was an agreement in the first place.Not so in the case of the British Olympic Association and its excitable declaration that it is all systems go for Great Britain football teams to compete in the men's and women's competitions at the London games in 2012.
Within moments of the announcement that the FA would coordinate the selection of a team comprising players from all four home nations, the Scottish and Welsh FAs reacted angrily, insisting they knew nothing of any agreement and, remain implacably opposed to the idea.
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."
Maintaining the theme, Welsh FA president Phil 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."
Hardly the ideal start to a project already laced with difficulties, and one that threatens to remain dead in the water.
The BOA statement had presented a very different picture.
"History will be made during the London 2012 Olympic Games as Team GB returns to the pitch in men's Olympic football for the first time in 52 years, and competes in the women's Olympic football tournament for the first time ever," it read.
"The landmark announcement is being made today by the British Olympic Association (BOA), which has reached an agreement with The Football Association (FA) that will enable Team GB to compete in both men's and women's football at home in London 2012."
It went on to claim the FA had consulted with other nations and that assurances had been received from Fifa that participation in the Olympics would not threaten the autonomy of the four home nations.
Not good enough in the eyes of the Scottish, Weslh and Irish football associations who later issued a joint statement explaining in more detail their objections.
"We have been consistently clear in explaining the reason for our stance, principally to protect the identity of each national association," it read. "With that in mind, we cannot support nor formally endorse the approach that has been proposed by the Football Association.
"We have stressed this in communications to them and are disappointed that this has been ignored in the media release. No discussions took place with any of us, far less historic agreement been reached, prior to the statement from the BOA being released.
"The Associations are committed to supporting the individual Home Nations playing all representative football under their respective flags as independent members of FIFA and UEFA. This position has been endorsed by supporters of all Home Nations, who have been consulted throughout this process."
It is clear the concept of fully supported Great Britain teams remain as distant now as it ever was and the prospect of the dissenters having a significant change of heart is negligible.
In short, the risk of setting a precendent for a two-week tournament is simply too great.
In overall terms, the composition of the GB teams means little to the Olympics as a whole although a genuinely united front might help when it comes to shifting the 1.7 million tickets for the football competitions that remain unsold. There are already genuine fears of empty terraces at Hampden Park and the continuing dispute will do nothing to change that.
Football is frequently seen as a bolt-on to the Olympics and many people are happy to see the sport for once relegated to a supporting role. As an under-23 tournament - three over-age players are permitted - it is by definition a diluted competition.
And no matter what the stance of the home associations, as far as the men's team is concerned, it is the employers of those players eventually selected for the 18-man squad - the clubs - who will exert a greater influence on who eventually appears.
Nonetheless, the clumsy handling of what was always going to a difficult and contentious issue does nobody any favours.
And after being accused of being arrogant in its dealing with other associations too often in the past, the last thing the FA needed was to threaten its relationship with its nearest neighbours.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/06/21/london-olympics-football-row-sums-up-problems-facing-united-gb/
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