gb football team for 2012

**dank76** · 16th December, 2008, 07:26 PM

Fifa 'to allow GB football team'

Blatter has publicly supported the idea of a Great Britain football team
Fifa is set to back plans for a Great Britain football team to play at the 2012 Olympics, despite opposition from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The issue will be discussed by Fifa in Tokyo and the sport's world governing body is expected to agree to a British team participating at the London Games.

However, it will not yet sanction its participation beyond 2012.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has already expressed his desire to have the hosts represented at the Games.

And it is thought he would be happy for all the players to be English if the other home nations refused to allow their players to take part.

The one Fifa figure who might have opposed the move, vice-president Jack Warner from Trinidad and Tobago, now looks unlikely to do so, and insisted: "I remain open on the matter."

Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke has attempted to assure these bodies that this would not be the case but Uefa president Michel Platini has said he understands the nations' fears.

And an SFA spokesman responded to news of Fifa's likely impending approval of a Team GB by saying: "Our opposition to Team GB remains resolute.

"Our concern is that Fifa members and Fifa executives in the future would not have the same view as this one - and, subsequently, our status as an independent member would be threatened."

By 2012, it will be 52 years since a British football team has participated in the Olympics.

"source bbc sport"

**opsmonkey** · 16th December, 2008, 07:33 PM

blatter he would.. why..?

because if there is a GB team he will say that the IFAB is no longer valid as we choose to be independant one time and GB the next.. he just doesnt like the IFAB having 4 votes on FIFA matters when a GB vote would reduce 4 to 1

**dank76** · 16th December, 2008, 07:36 PM

it would be a very interesting team who would be in the starting 11 ?

**opsmonkey** · 16th December, 2008, 08:47 PM

it'd be mostly english.. i cant even name a decent scottish, welsh or NI international at one of europe's top clubs

**lfc4life** · 16th December, 2008, 08:52 PM

this team GB thing is a bad thing because no top stars will want too be in it and we will be the laughing stock! When we get thrashed !

**dank76** · 16th December, 2008, 08:57 PM

fair comments

**opsmonkey** · 16th December, 2008, 08:58 PM

Clubs arent under obligation to release players as Team GB is not affiliated to any Football Association

**lfc4life** · 16th December, 2008, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by opsmonkey

Clubs arent under obligation to release players as Team GB is not affiliated to any Football Association

i know that but the will find a way too get them to go too it??? or face sanctions!

**opsmonkey** · 16th December, 2008, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by lfc4life

i know that but the will find a way too get them to go too it??? or face sanctions!

if the FA's of Eng, Scot, Wales & NI dont want to be part of a Team GB.. no-one can make them.. people have tried for years, they dont want to loose the vote in the IFAB..

Blatter has said he thinks its a good idea.. so what..? He cant make a FIFA member affiliate to the IOC..

Argentina Olympic Team have no affiliation to the AFA.. hense why they have no AFA badge on their olympic shirt.. just blue and white stripes.. the AFA dont mind them playing.. if they did it would be a different matter