The BOA unveiled what it labelled as a “landmark” collaboration just a day after Scottish Football Association CEO Stewart Regan reiterated his organisation’s opposition to being involved in a Great Britain team at the Games. However, following the BOA’s announcement, which included quotes from chief executive Andy Hunt (pictured) and English Football Association (FA) general secretary Alex Horne, the neighbouring Associations made clear in a joint statement that they had not agreed to such a deal.
“No discussions took place with any of us, far less historic agreement been reached, prior to the statement from the BOA being released,” read the statement that was signed by Regan, Football Association of Wales CEO Jonathan Ford and Irish Football Association chief executive Patrick Nelson. “The Associations are committed to supporting the individual home nations playing all representative football under their respective flags as independent members of FIFA and UEFA.”
An earlier statement from the BOA claimed that the men's and women's sides would be selected and managed by the English FA. “Consistent with requirements set out in the Olympic Charter, the selection criteria will be entirely non-discriminatory,” it stated. “Players from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and other territories which fall under the BOA's remit as an National Olympic Committee, who meet the approved competitive standard will be eligible for consideration and selection.”
In the BOA statement, Horne said: “We are pleased that the team will be selected from players across the home nations and I'd like to thank our counterparts at the Welsh, Irish and Scottish FAs for their understanding on what is a difficult issue.” The BOA added that the FA had consulted with its counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to establish the selection criteria and Hunt stated that it would be “unthinkable” for a Great Britain football team not to participate at the Olympics in London.
However, the three Associations have long opposed an all-British team at the 2012 Games, fearing that such a team could have a negative impact on their identities in world football. Football Association of Wales president Phil Pritchard insisted on Tuesday: “The (English) FA have no authority to speak on our behalf – they do not represent Wales whatsoever and that's a fact. We have not discussed this at any time recently.”
