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LONDON - Britain will enter a team into the 2012 Olympic
football tournament but it will only include English players after
a compromise between the Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and
English football associations.
The plan is expected to be ratified by world governing body FIFA
at its annual congress next week in the Bahamas although it would
also have to be rubber-stamped by the British Olympic Association
(BOA), which has always sought a team open to all British
players.
A British team has not competed at the Olympics since 1960 but
the Government is determined to have one at the London Games even
if it is not representative of all the nations that make up the
United Kingdom.
Despite assurances from FIFA president Sepp Blatter that their
independent status would not be eroded by contributing to a British
Olympic team for 2012, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have
remained vehemently opposed to taking part.
FIFA set a deadline of May 31 for the four nations to come to an
agreement and the Scottish FA is confident that the proposal to
have an England team playing under a British banner will be
approved.
"FIFA had asked the four associations to find a common solution
to the issue of a British team," Scottish FA spokesman Rob
Shorthouse said on Friday.
"One thing is absolutely clear, we are completely opposed to the
four home associations coming together to play under a unified
banner in 2012 or in any other competition. This is a view shared
by our colleagues in Wales and Northern Ireland.
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"However, we acknowledge the fact that the English FA wish to
have an involvement in the 2012 Olympic football tournament as it
is being held in their country.
"A proposal has therefore gone forward to FIFA which states that
England will field a team in the 2012 Olympics made up exclusively
of English players. Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales will not
play any part."
Although the four British football associations are recognised
as separate entities by FIFA, the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) recognises Britain only as an entity to compete in the
Olympics.
The IOC said on Friday that the selection of players for a
British team would rest with the BOA.
"Whether or not Britain has a football team competing at the
2012 Games is a decision that needs to be worked out between the
home associations, the British Olympic Association (BOA) and FIFA,"
IOC press office Sandrine Tonge said.
"We look forward to being informed in due course by FIFA and the
BOA of the final outcome of their discussions."
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are fiercely protective of
their individual status within FIFA and feel that by allowing their
players to compete would set a precedent for future tournaments and
ultimately lead to a British team.
The BOA is committed to entering a British team at the 2012
Games but said no final decision would be made until after the FIFA
congress.