Olympic football play-offs call

[davieG]

Tory leader David Cameron has suggested a football team to represent Britain at the 2012 London Olympics could be decided by a home nations tournament.

Mr Cameron said a play-off could decide which of the UK's four national teams represented Britain at the Games.

The football governing bodies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all opposed to the notion of a combined Great Britain team.

They fear the implications for their own futures as separate entities.

Britain has not had a football team at the Olympics since 1960 because of concerns a combined British team could affect the status of individual nations within football's governing body Fifa.

Mr Cameron told BBC Scotland's Politics Show there was a need for one national team when it came to the Olympics.

'Daft' proposal

"Maybe the answer is to have a home tournament, see who wins and that team goes forward, but for the Olympics we've got to settle this so there is a representative team," he said.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has expressed his determination to reach a deal over entering men's and women's British football teams at the London games.

The Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland football bodies have opposed any such move in case it affects their international status.

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said: "What we're talking about in the Olympics is an under-21 team and the idea that, in any sense, we should risk the future of Scottish international football for the sake of participation in an under-21 tournament in the Olympics, I think it simply daft."

The first minister urged all parties to stick with the Scottish Football Association's position.

He added: "They take some knocks from time to time, but they know infinitely more about the workings of Fifa than David Cameron, Gordon Brown, or even Alex Salmond."

[Fosse Boy]

Fcuking hell, has that daft toff actually created a policy?

I think it'd be embarrassing if we didn't enter a team when the games are in our own back yard. Especially since FIFA guaranteed the home nations' sovereignty for all other international tournaments.

[Bert]

If there was to be a GB team at 2012, it should be a 20 man squad, with 5 players from each country, then it's fair.

[Finnegan]

If there was to be a GB team at 2012, it should be a 20 man squad, with 5 players from each country, then it's fair.

We don't want in. For a number of reasons.

Mostly because Blatter and Co' have said it will jeopardize our future as a free footballing nation. I don't see why the English are kicking up a fuss, really, we're not telling you you can't have a GB team we're just telling you we won't be giving you our players.

And let's be honest, it'd be mostly English lads anyway.

[Bert]

We don't want in. For a number of reasons.

Mostly because Blatter and Co' have said it will jeopardize our future as a free footballing nation. I don't see why the English are kicking up a fuss, really, we're not telling you you can't have a GB team we're just telling you we won't be giving you our players.

And let's be honest, it'd be mostly English lads anyway.

Hence a 20 man squad, with 5 players from each nation. I can see why you don't want in though.

Whether it happens or not, I don't care, was just throwing in another possible idea.

Blatter's a ****.

[Shrenchel]

These days England players seemingly don't really give a fook about playing for England, I doubt they're going to raise their game when playing for GB in the olympics.

No doubt everyone will just argue about for 3 years, we'll eventually sort something out and then get battered by Nigeria and Australia in the group stage.

[davieG]

These days England players seemingly don't really give a fook about playing for England, I doubt they're going to raise their game when playing for GB in the olympics.

No doubt everyone will just argue about for 3 years, we'll eventually sort something out and then get battered by Nigeria and Australia in the group stage.

As it's U21s I doubt that would be a big problem.