Written by Smithy on March 1st, 2009
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 could lose its footballing independence if they agree to join GB olympic team, says FIFA - The Sunday Mail
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 .
...
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.
...
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.
...
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.
Posted in: NoTeamGB.com
Written by Smithy on December 14th, 2008
Craig Brown will be launching a petition at Hampden on Sunday at 3.00pm that will go to the Scottish Parliament's petitions committee that calls on the Scottish Government to consider the impact to Scottish football as a whole and the wider Scottish economy should a GB football team be allowed to go ahead.
Last year FIFA President Sepp Blatter spelled out the consequences of participation in a GB Olympic football team: “It doesn't matter to us if they decide to enter as one team, but then they would lose all their current privileges. There would be no Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish national teams and leagues. Can you imagine what British football would look like?" - Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA, September 2007 (Source: FIFA official website)
The petition by Craig Brown, entitled "Save Scottish Football" also calls upon MSPs to assess the knock on social and economic impact north of the Border should a GB Football Team take part and FIFA move to ban Scotland from playing internationally as well as killing off the Scottish leagues.
MSP Christine Grahame, who has campaigned vigorously against the creation of a GB football team, will join Mr Brown at Hampden. Ms Grahame is also Convener of the Parliament’s Health and Sport Committee. Speaking ahead of the launch she said:
“The threat posed by the creation of a GB football team goes way beyond football and if FIFA carries out the action outlined by their President just last year then that would have a catastrophic social and economic impact in Scotland as well as killing off football in Scotland as we know it.
“No one, bar a handful of politically motivated zealots in London, wants a GB football team precisely because they recognise the huge threat this poses.
"Craig Brown’s petition is a welcome contribution and will give Scots the chance to let their voices be heard by MSPs.”
FIFA’s Executive Committee is due to meet in Tokyo next Friday (19th December) where they will consider a formal complaint made by Ms Grahame regarding alleged political interference by the British Government who are, according to Ms Grahame, conspiring to undermine the independence of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish football associations.
In a two part interview for BBC Alba to be shown this weekend Craig Brown will state “I don’t trust FIFA”, before going on to voice his opposition to a GB Olympic football team, a view echoed by Ms Grahame. She added:
“Documents I have obtained make it explicitly clear that any assurance offered by FIFA would not be binding on future members of the FIFA Executive Committee and so the threat posed by such a precedent is real and present, regardless of what FIFA announce next week. It is important that all Scots, regardless of their personal or political outlook, but who care passionately about the Scottish game make their opposition known.”
The petition will be available to sign online at the Scottish Parliament shortly, details to follow.
Posted in: NoTeamGB.com
Write something about yourself or your blog here.