BOA chief admits Team GB could be all-English in 2012

Published on Thursday 16 April 2009 23:03

ANDY Hunt, the chief executive of the British Olympic Association (BOA), said yesterday that he remains optimistic that men's and women's football teams, comprising players from all four home nations, will represent Team GB at the London Olympics in 2012, adding that it would be "an absolute travesty" if they don't.

But he also admitted that, if no solution is found in the "coming weeks", then the teams could be comprised entirely of English players, subject to Fifa approval.

Hunt, who took over from Simon Clegg after the Beijing Olympics, has encountered the same problem as his predecessor: namely, the opposition of the Scottish and Welsh Football Associations to the idea of a British team, which they fear could threaten their independent status in the eyes of Fifa.

Yesterday, Hunt admitted that the prospect of the GB football teams being comprised solely of English players was a possibility. "Fifa (would] first have to agree to us working on that basis, but the English FA are the National Olympic Committee member – they represent football on the NOC. We would need Fifa to support that. In the latest letter (from Fifa] Sepp Blatter has asked for the four nations to resolve their differences and compete as Team GB, which is what we want. The next stage is to sit down with all four home nations and find a solution."

Asked whether he has sought a meeting with the SFA, Hunt said: "I have offered. I've written to them and emailed them (about a] meeting."

Hunt continued: "I've discussed with the FA what we can do to help facilitate the outcome that I think most people in this country would like, which is to have men's and women's British teams in the Games.

"We are absolutely understanding of the sensitivity around this issue, but it would be an absolute travesty if we did not have a GB football team and I really hope that in the coming weeks there will be a solution."