The Association of Tartan Army clubs (ATAC - Scotland)
Football Supporters Federation (FSF - England)
Football Supporters Federation Cymru (FSF Cymru - Wales)
Amalgamation of Official NI Supporters Clubs (AONISC - Northern Ireland)
Fans blast U-Turn on Team GB
The No Team GB campaign today launched a scathing attack towards the Football Associations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as it was revealed they will set aside their previous objections and will allow an all England team to participate in the 2012 Olympics, badged up as a Team GB.
Spokesman Tam Ferry said;
“We are shocked and disgusted with this U-turn and apparent endorsement of a Team GB.
It was only 2 months ago that the SFA, IFA and FAW sent a joint letter to FIFA, BOA and the FA, stating categorical opposition to the creation of a Team GB Football team. Furthermore the SFA, IFA and FAW explicitly mentioned they would not participate in any more discussions on this topic.
Given this statement of intent, we were astonished to find out that there was a secret meeting of the 4 FA’s to discuss Team GB.
The decision to remove their opposition and thus allowing England to play as Team GB sets a dangerous precedent which could lead to the end of our identities as independent international football nations.
The 4 FA’s clearly fail to realise that this decision could not only end up costing them their positions and could also be the beginning of the end of the Scottish, English, Wales and Irish FA’s.”
He continued;
“This is not the end of the fight. The very futures of our independent International teams are at stake here.
The England and Scotland - two oldest international teams - along with Northern Ireland and Wales could disappear forever if FIFA decide to vote through a change to the special privileged articles which allows the teams to participate, despite not meeting entry requirements to FIFA.
The fans, the REAL football fans of the 4 countries will be convening a meeting in Newcastle next month to decide the next steps in the fight to preserve their independence.”
The Association of Tartan Army clubs (ATAC - Scotland)
Football Supporters Federation (FSF - England)
Football Supporters Federation Cymru (FSF Cymru - Wales)
Amalgamation of Official NI Supporters Clubs (AONISC - NorthernIreland)
The BOA and UK Government were today accused of acting like schoolkids in a playground after yesterdays revelation that a GB football team will be entered in the 2012 Olympics, against the express wishes of the IFA, SFA and FAW. The statement from government minister Gerry Sutcliffe MP was branded as a childish, "we're taking our ball back" stance, in expressing the intent of entering a GB football team, regardless of the views of the football fans and the other Football Associations.
NoTeamGB.com Spokesperson, Tam Ferry said:-
"The BOA have no moral authority to enter a GB football Team into the 2012 Olympics, against the expressed wishes of the SFA, IFA and FAW. Reassurances from any FIFA individual, namely Mr Blatter and Mr Valcke are meaningless. No individual can make any reassurances on the future existence of our home nations teams, as its the entire FIFA membership, not any individual that would decide the future of our national Teams."
He continued:-
"The FA, SFA, FAW and IFA have a special privileged position within FIFA which is looked on with envious eyes by many FA's worldwide. All this talk of Team GB simply highlights our special membership of FIFA despite the membership criteria being "......an independent state recognised by the international community." (FIFA Statutes 2008, Article 10.1)
A GB Football team manufactured solely for the purpose of winning medals and boosting attendances at the 2012 Olympics flies in the face of the Olympic creed. A GB (professional U23 with 3 overage players) football team does not exist.
FACT.
GB Football Team has no players, no fans, no home, no strip, and no history.
FACT.
The BOA are going about this the wrong way if all they want is Team England disguised as Team GB to compete at the Olympics. Instead of the BOA asking FIFA for reassurances that cannot be guaranteed, the BOA should be asking the IOC for special dispensation for Team England, Team Scotland, Team Wales and Team NI to participate in the Olympic football.
If the BOA are intent on bending the eligibility rules to enable participation in any event, then they should bend their own Olympic rules and allow extra teams instead of breaking the rules of an unrelated organisation and endangering the very existence of 4 other unrelated organisations.
With this compromise the stadiums would be full, medal chances would be increased but most importantly, there would be no dangerous precedent set which could threaten the very existence of our international football teams."
The football fans of all 4 home nations are united and will continue to fight under the NoTeamGB.com Campaign.
On Tuesday the 3rd March the petition opposing a Great Britian fotball team for the 2012 Olympics was presented to the Scottish Parliament Petitions committee.
A few footsoldiers were present to see Scottish democracy in action. Prior to the No Team GB petition being presented, 2 others were presented - each receiving some arguments for and against them. It was not looking good...
Thankfully the petition was presented and not one comment against it was made. Even the Labour MSP Bill Buttler commented "I do not see the need for a GB football team. One Fifa executive, like one Parliament, cannot bind another Fifa executive in the future". This was a suprising response given the previous form of Labout MP's who seem to be under pressure to keep up Gordon Browns TeamGB mantra.
MSPs agreed to seek further information from Fifa as to the status of a GB football team.
Speaking afterwards, Martin Riddell, a footsolier from Edinburgh Tartan Army commented: "Fifa just can't give any guarantees at all. It's not just the Scotland team that we are worried about – we don't want to lose an England team, we don't want to lose a Northern Ireland team and we don't want to lose a Welsh team either."
Simon Johnston, one of the NoTeamGB.com spokesmen said this about Gordon Brown: "He's putting his weight behind this because this is a big flagship for the London 2012 Olympics. They see it as a money-making exercise and they're not going to give up on it but we would like them to come out and say no, because the consequences are dire. This is a real threat to Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland international teams."
Once the Parliament receives communications from Fifa the petition wil be brought back to the committee for further consideration before being put to the entire Scottish Parliament.
A very important news report for anybody interested in the No Team GB debate. In essence FIFA have said that should a GB football team in the olympics, it will put an end to Scotland, Enlgand, Wales and Northern Ireland having seperate football associations.
SCOTLAND have been warned by FIFA they risk losing their independence as a football nation if they agree to be part of Team GB at the 2012 Olympics .
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Blatter, along with UEFA's Michel Platini, was in Belfast yesterday for the International Football Association Board meeting that was attended by SFA chief Gordon Smith and president George Peat.
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Mailsport understands FIFA president Sepp Blatter last night told the SFA their independent place within the game will be jeopardised by co-operating with Team GB.
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Peat said: "Mr Blatter told us at an informal function held by the Irish government if we agreed to be part of Team GB our position would be in jeopardy.
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