So, we are to play a British side in the olympics after all. Surely we can put a reasonable side out for that? What nation do you think will dominate? What would your suggested side be?
Looks like this one's a non starter... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/london_2012/13854492.stm
Maybe I am being naive but surely this is a massive opportunity to take part in one of the premier competitions in the world, and it is on our soil, we are never going to get the world(at least with current fifa and probably beyond). As an under 23 can't think why you wouldn't want yo play, I believe other nations put out a decent team, spain, Brazil, Italy, Argentina and used it as a stepping stone. I realise not one nation but surely a taste of the big time, possibly success can only be a good thing. For everyone.
I think its a great idea. No idea why all the home nations bar England are so against it. Did someone tell them the teams called GB blighty Utd or something?
apparently its because FIFA would love to get us all under one passport banner in order to break down our historic power place in world football, apparently we always hold the vice presidents position in FIFA permanently between the home nations associations (fat lot of good it does us!) and because FIFA cannot be trusted to keep their word.
I've taken this from another message board, longish read but it's interesting stuff ------------ The NoTeamGB.com campaign is run by fans organisations from England (FSF), Northern Ireland (Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs), Scotland (Association of Tartan Army Clubs) and Wales (FSF Cymru) and we are united in our opposition to the creation of a Great Britain football team for the purposes of the 2012 Olympics or beyond. There is a real and present threat to the very existence of our international teams if a Team GB competes at the London Olympics. This would set a dangerous precedent of competing as Team GB which may endanger our special status within FIFA. England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are members of FIFA due to special statutes endorsed in 1947 as a direct result of saving FIFA from bankruptcy after the war. The Home nations hold 4 of the 8 votes on the International Committee (the guardians of the rules of football) as well as automatic Vice-Presidency of FIFA. This power within FIFA is looked on with envious eyes and our special status has been called into question several times over the last 30 years. All it would take is a 2/3rds majority vote at any FIFA General meeting for our international teams to disappear forever. The aim of the NoTeamGB.com campaign is to educate the public and fellow fans as to the dangers involved and to expose the false statements from non-football people. Our objective is to have the BOA and UK Government drop this futile campaign which puts at risk the future of our national teams. Is the opposition to a Team GB just confined to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Welsh Football fans? No! England fans (the Football Supporters Federation) also voted against participating as Team GB at the Olympics and are opposed to any of the parties putting forward any team under the guise of Team GB. Britain previously had an Olympic Football Team, which I believe ran up till 1979 what is the difference between then and now? Why not opposition to such an idea when it was in action? Britain last qualified for the Olympics in 1960, and the last failed qualifying campaign was for the 1972 Olympics. At this time, Olympic football was an amateur competition for UEFA based teams but professionals were allowed to play for countries from other federations. The Olympic Football competition was fully opened to professionals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics to attract more interest in the competition, however a compromise was agreed with FIFA to make it an U23 competition so as not to rival the world cup. GB stopped competing after 1972 when the English FA abolished the distinction between Amateur and Professional. The home nations had a gentlemen's agreement not to compete in the Olympics even if a qualification place was secured by the performances of the U21s. This very scenario has happened 3 times with Scotland qualifying for the 1992 and 1996 Olympics and England qualifying for the 2008 Olympics. FIFA President Sepp Blatter recently gave assurances that the Home Nations would not be forced to merge even if they established a Team GB and allowed it to compete in the 2012 London Olympics is he not to be trusted? Neither Sepp Blatter nor Jerome Valcke are in any position to give any such assurances. FIFA operates as a democracy, and it would be 2/3rds of the FIFA members that would decide on the future of the home nations teams, not any one individual. Absolutely no official (from FIFA or otherwise) is in any position to make any guarantees as to how any of the member states may vote in the future. Sepp Blatter actually released a completely contradictory statement in March 2008 when he said: "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." This warning, from the most powerful man in football, should leave every football fan in no doubt as to what is at stake here, the very existence of our International Football Teams. Former Scotland Boss Craig Brown has came out publicly backing the campaign who else has endorsed it? The NoTeamGB.com campaign is a fans campaign, however we completely endorse Craig Brown petition. This is not an election looking for celebrity endorsements; this is a fight for the future of our International Teams. Michel Platini recently demanded Gordon Brown to butt out of the Team GB argument is this 'Olympic Football Team' purely a Political PR Stunt by the Westminster Government? It is a commonly held belief that there is political pressure from both the UK Government and the BOA being placed on the English FA to enter a Team as Team GB into the football team. FC Britain does not exist. It has no home, no strip, no manager, no players and certainly no fans. Lord Coe, one of the biggest advocates of Team GB, recently admitted that he couldn't issue any guarantees that playing as Team GB would not affect the future of our international football teams. Why are the BOA, the FA and other bodies that back the idea of a Team GB so hell bent on doing it even without the backing of the other Home Nations? The Olympic credo is; "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well" The BOA has lost its way and forgotten that the Olympics is about participation, not winning at any cost. It's simply about medals, sponsorship and money these days. Just ask the athletes from sports that didn't do so well in 2008 that have just had their budgets slashed. Just ask all the good causes throughout Great Britain that have had lottery money taken from them to support this London Olympics. In a country where football is the most popular sport, it is seen as guaranteed source of income for the 2012 Olympics and the BOA and Olympic Organising Committee remain keen to exploit this. The BOA has insisted that it will enter a team for 2012 Olympics, however, this is not simply "lacking endorsement" from the SFA, FAW and the IFA, it is absolutely opposed to the very public and unequivocal stance taken by all three associations and neither the BOA, The FA or the UK Government has any moral or governance right to do so. The BOA and UK Government are looking for guarantees and special dispensation from FIFA for Team GB to take part. The sensible way forward would be to look for special dispensation from the IOC to allow all 4 home nations to enter the football team under their own banner. This would create even more of the much needed revenue and TV interest which seems to be at the heart of this relentless campaign. If the BOA are determined to bend existing rules to ensure a British footballing presence, then it would seem logical for them to bend the IOC rules, and not those of a completely separate organisation (FIFA) over which they have no control, influence or governance and which places the future of all four home nations at risk for the sake of a one off under 23 tournament which remains a nonentity in the world of football. The "No Team GB" campaign started in May 2006 as a result of the inaugural meeting at Easter Road, Edinburgh of the Scottish, English, Welsh and Northern Ireland official Fans Groups. Back in 2006 it was comments from Lord Coe and Simon Clegg that mainly appeared in the newspapers and internet, stating a GB football team would be entered in 2012 and possibly 2008. It was increasingly difficult to get responses printed from the NoTeamGB.com campaign, especially on the BBC, the Olympic broadcaster. Political interference: Prime Minister Gordon Brown has had meetings with FIFA supremo Sepp Blatter, in a bid to keep up the pressure on the 3 dissenting associations. Secretary of State for Scotland, Jim Murphy MP, had a meeting with FIFA's Jerome Valcke without inviting or even talking to the SFA, FAW and IFA first. In a surprise development, the SFA, FAW and IFA released a joint letter to the BOA, FIFA, the UK Government stating in no uncertain terms that they will be having nothing to do with an Olympic team.
It's a nice idea and all, everyone coming together to support a common cause, but reading all of that, it doesn't look like it's possible. When you add in Euro 2012 in Poland/Ukraine (assuming we get there) then it looks like it's dead in the water. Would be great if a deal could be hammered out for just Championship players though.
