No Team GB Press Release – FIFA Executive meeting 19th/20th December in Tokyo
The No team GB campaign today urged the F.I.F.A. Executive Committee to make their position clear, with regards a GB football team at the 2012 Olympics and beyond at their meeting in Tokyo on 19th and 20th December. We wish them to state categorically that a GB football team at the Olympics would bring into question the status of the four home nations teams at any given time in the future. It is our view that the British Olympic Association are playing games with the future of the English, Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh International football teams for the sake of a one-off event. The Executive Committee should re-affirm the fact that F.I.F.A. remains a democracy and no individual or group within that organisation can give any assurances as to the long term future of our national teams.
No team GB spokesman Simon Johnston said "This is an ideal opportunity for F.I.F.A. to put this matter to bed. The British Olympic Association seem determined to go ahead with a GB football team at any cost and are playing a dangerous game with the long term future of the four home nations national teams. The simple fact of the matter is that a GB team would set a precedent, it could come back to bit us at anytime in the future and the F.I.F.A Executive Committee know this. Football fans throughout the UK are passionate about their national team and it would be a disaster if a one-off event were to put the four national teams status in jeopardy. We hope F.I.F.A recognise this".
Ken Malley, England regular and Football Supporters' Federation member, said: "We hope F.I.F.A. listen to fans from all four home nations, as well as the Football Associations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - Team GB is not wanted. Team GB threatens the very existence of the English, Northern Irish, Scottish, and Welsh national teams. Whatever reassurances Fifa's executive committee give at present regarding home nations sovereignty there is no guarantee it will last. Fifa is a members organisation, and those individual members could well view this as a precedent and look to enforce it in future. The Olympics is a fantastic event, and the sports involved should see it as the absolute pinnacle, the football world won't take it seriously enough."
Paul Corkery, FSF Cymru spokesman added: "FSF Cymru are not convinced Jerome Valcke's (FIFA) re- assurance that the creation of a Team GB would not jeopardise the independence of the home nations.We have not received any written guarantees. FIFA are always likely to change their opinions in the future and agreeing to a joint team now, would set a precedent that could be used one day against the four home nations".
Gary McAllister of the AONISC said "The Amalgamation of Official NISCs is opposed to the concept of a United Kingdom representative team participating in the 2012 Olympic Football Tournament. We feel that such a move would undoubtedly lead to increased lobbying for an end to the present individual representative status of the four British Associations, a scenario which International fans throughout the Home Nations would be opposed to."
Yours in sports
No Team GB
www.noteamgb.com
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