FA says Euro 2012 players won’t go to Olympics as Sir Alex fears ‘utter chaos’

The English FA reacted swiftly last night to confirm that no player selected for Euro 2012 will be picked for the Great Britain Olympic team later this summer.

GB coach Stuart Pearce trimmed his squad to 80 players earlier last week. It will eventually be cut down to 18, three of whom can be over-age players for the prestigious under-23 competition.

However, in noting that he could potentially lose ten of his players to the Games, including Spain’s David De Gea and Javier Hernandez, who is set to be picked by Mexico, Manchester manager Sir Alex Ferguson expressed his displeasure at the weekend, claiming it will leave his pre-season plans in chaos.

The FA tried to calm such concerns yesterday, outlining the selection policy that will frame Pearce’s Olympic squad.

“Any player who travels to Euro 2012 with England will not be considered for the Olympic GB team,” said Club England managing director Adrian Bevington. “This position has not changed.

“The original long list of players was reduced to 80 players last week and a final 18-man squad will be announced very soon after the Euro squad is selected in May to assist player and clubs with their planning for next season.

“The list of 80 players does include players who are regulars in the England squad and they remain on the Team GB list until England’s Euro squad is finalised. If they are selected for [the finals in] Poland and Ukraine, they will not be available for the Olympics.”

In a sense, Pearce has been handicapped by the ongoing uncertainty over the England squad. With no manager in place, it is impossible to assess the make-up of the European Championship squad.

Therefore, while it is thought almost certain that Wayne Rooney will be in Poland and Ukraine, even though he is suspended for England’s opening two games, he has been left on the Olympics list just in case.

Phil Jones, Danny Welbeck, Chris Smalling and Tom Cleverley are more obvious candidates for both as they all meet the selection criteria, meaning that, if they do not make the European Championship squad, Pearce would want them at the Olympics.

The FA said earlier this week there would be no barrier placed on the number of players per team Pearce could select, although they are hoping the former England skipper’s relationship with various club managers could soothe any tensions.

Ferguson, though, appears to have taken the opportunity to warn the FA about messing clubs about. “It’s ridiculous, utter chaos,” he said at the weekend. “I have no idea how badly other clubs are affected, but I would imagine Tottenham will have a few, like Gareth Bale. Aston Villa have a lot of younger players as well – that is all Alex McLeish needs.”

Speaking before Club England released its statement, Ferguson claimed that he had agreed with Pearce that none of the players who appear at this summer’s European Championships would be included in his Olympics squad.

“We have agreed that any player who boards the plane to the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine will not be considered for selection to Team GB,” Ferguson said.

“It’s a sensible football decision when you consider the demands on players, and it now leaves no room for doubt for players and their clubs about next summer and the two major tournaments.”

Scotland outcast Steven Fletcher is determined to defy the SFA and play at the Olympics – especially as his international career is still currently on hold.

Wolves manager Terry Connor – who saw his side relegated from the Barclays Premier League yesterday – has revealed that Fletcher is desperate to play for Team GB this summer, going against the wishes of the SFA.

SFA officials are not keen for Scottish players to play, fearing it could affect Scotland’s independence with Fifa and Uefa. But Fletcher has made Pearce’s cut so far and is determined to play, not least because he remains an international exile from the plans of Craig Levein.

Connor said: “It is a big thing and when I spoke to Fletch about it he was keen to put himself forward for it particularly at the moment when he has the international impasse with himself and Scotland.

“I think he sees it as something that he would really like to do so he is on course to do that.

“We first spoke about this when he had to decide whether he wanted to take part in it and he wanted to.

“I wished him all the best with that and his performances have warranted his inclusion. So it would be nice if he can finish the season with a flurry of goals, because I know it is an ambition of his to play at the Olympics and that would be great.”

Meanwhile, Celtic’s James Forrest says he will decline any invitation to play at the Olympics, even though FIFA will order Celtic to comply should the winger be chosen for the final squad.

Forrest is still included in Pearce’s provisional list, but insists that he will put club commitments first. The London Games coincide with Celtic’s Champions League qualifiers, and he said at the weekend: “The club comes first. If the qualifiers are at the same time, I’ll be staying at Celtic, even though it would obviously be a huge honour to represent Britain at the Olympics.”

Fifteen of the 16 teams to contest the Olympic tournament are already known. Oman and Senegal will contest the final place in Coventry tonight, with the draw taking place at Wembley tomorrow lunchtime.