FA to keep options open for Olympics

The Football Association have vowed to open “sensible dialogue” with England’s senior clubs over the issue of selection for the British Olympic team.

Although it was suggested privately earlier this year that no player selected for England’s Euro 2012 squad would double up for the Olympic side as well, there has been a subtle shift from that position. Club Wembley chief executive Adrian Bevington yesterday suggested that the FA did not want to get “locked in” with Stuart Pearce’s selection policy.

It led to the raising of a possibility that members of Fabio Capello’s squad in Poland and Ukraine who do not feature extensively in the tournament could then appear at the Olympics. Wayne Rooney’s name was then inevitably put forward by the media as someone who may be affected as he is suspended for England’s Euro 2012 group games.

However, the FA has moved to quell such talk, stating: “We did not say players would be selected for both tournaments, but stated clearly the organisation would not be locked into a policy of ruling it out. We also made it very clear the need for sensible dialogue with clubs, players and representatives and that everything would be handled with common sense.”