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Blatter against British 2012 team

Blatter held a meeting with the Scottish FA on Saturday
Blatter held a meeting with the Scottish FA on Saturday

Fifa president Sepp Blatter says a Great Britain football team at the 2012 Olympic Games should feature only English players.

The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish football bodies oppose a GB team in case it affects their Fifa status, while England back the idea.

Blatter now says said the independent status of the four British associations could be harmed by a unified GB team.

"They should enter only a team composed of players from England," said Blatter.

"This will then not provoke a long and endless discussion of the four British associations."

606: DEBATE

The International Olympic Committee does not recognise separate teams from Britain's home countries.

Olympic qualification has been impossible as it is based on Fifa's under-21 competitions in which the four home nations compete individually.

Blatter was speaking from Gleneagles, Scotland, where the International Football Association annual meeting has been taking place.

The Scottish FA reiterated its opposition to a unified team during a meeting with Blatter on Saturday.

"I said that is the best thing for you to do," said Blatter.

"If you start to put together a combined team for the Olympic Games, the question will automatically come up that there are four different associations so how can they play in one team.

"If this is the case then why the hell do they have four associations and four votes and their own vice-presidency?

"This will put into question all the privileges that the British associations have been given by the Congress in 1946."

Great Britain would have a men's team for the first time since the 1956 Olympics and a women's team for the first time ever.


see also
Government backs GB football team
04 Mar 08 |  Football
Fifa veteran opposed to GB team
31 Oct 07 |  Football
Home nations dispute GB 2012 team
30 Oct 07 |  Football
GB football team to enter Games
30 Sep 06 |  Football
Coe hopeful on GB football team
12 Dec 05 |  Internationals
Wales oppose GB Olympic football
06 Dec 05 |  Internationals
BOA wants Scots rethink on 2012
11 Nov 05 |  Premier League
SNP repeats Olympic football call
11 Nov 05 |  Scotland
No Scots for GB Olympic football
11 Nov 05 |  Football
SFA softens Olympic team stance
05 Oct 05 |  Football
Smith 'excited' by Olympic team
02 Sep 05 |  Internationals
Fifa green light for 2012 GB team
01 Sep 05 |  Football
Premier League backs 2012 GB team
20 Jul 05 |  Olympics 2012
FA wants GB team in 2012 Olympics
06 Jul 05 |  Olympics 2012


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