British Agreement for Team GB Olympic Football Squad Sparks Anger

(ATR) Despite long-running opposition from the football associations of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, the British Olympic Association says it has reached agreement to field men's and women's teams at the London Olympics from all four home nations.

The BOA said Tuesday it had struck an agreement with the English Football Association to field a men's Olympic team for the first time in 52 years – and a women’s side for the first time ever.

"We are honored to be working in close partnership with The FA, on behalf of all four Football Associations, to fulfill this historic opportunity," BOA chief executive Andy Hunt said in a statement. "It has been a long, six-year journey to get to this point, with very real considerations from the Home Nations that first had to be recognized, respected and resolved."

But the Scottish and Welsh FAs immediately claimed no such deal had been reached. Together with the Northern Ireland FA, the FAs have expressed concerns in the past about their autonomy in the eyes of FIFA if they joined together for the Olympics.

The BOA announced that the British sides will be administered by The FA, which will have responsibility for nominating the managers, players and support personnel to the BOA for final selection to Team Great Britain.

"Consistent with requirements set out in the Olympic Charter, the selection criteria will be entirely non-discriminatory, as players from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and other territories which fall under the BOA’s remit as an NOC, who meet the approved competitive standard will be eligible for consideration and selection," the BOA said in a statement.

The FA has consulted with its partner associations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in developing the player-selection criteria and timeline, the BOA said.

According to the BOA, "all four FAs have received a written assurance from FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke that participation in the 2012 Olympic football tournament will in no way compromise their autonomy and independence for other FIFA-sanctioned tournaments, nor will it have any impact on their positions of leadership within the FIFA governance structure."

FIFA has made this assurance onseveral previous occasions.

The men’s team will feature 18 players with 15 U-23 footballers and three "open age" players. The women’s team is also made up of 18 players, but there are no age restrictions.

The player selection process will begin later this year with the development of a "long list" of potential players, as identified by the Team GB managers. An announcement of the managers for both Team GB sides will be made in the coming months.

Players will then be asked to confirm their interest and availability to compete for Team GB following discussions with their respective professional clubs and Home Associations.

A few battles lie ahead. Top-flight clubs may not want to release players during the off-season as theylook to prepare for the 2012/2013 season.

An announcement of the two squads will be made in the summer of 2012.

The 1960 Rome Games was the last time Team GB took part in the Olympic football competition. The squad beat Taiwan 3-2, drew 1-1 with Italy and lost 4-3 to Brazil, failing to advance to the medal round.

At London 2012, the men’s football competition will feature 16 teams and the women’s tournament 12 teams. Preliminary round matches begin July 25, two days before the opening ceremony. Matches will be played at six stadia across the UK including London's Wembley Stadium, venue for the gold medal match, and Manchester United's Old Trafford.

English FA general secretary Alex Horne said: "We're delighted there will be football teams representing Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics.

"It's important as the host nation, football plays its part in what is sure to be a fantastic spectacle.

"We are pleased that the team will be selected from players across the home nations and I'd like to thank our counterparts at the Welsh, Irish and Scottish FAs for their understanding on what is a difficult issue."

Written by Mark Bisson