GREAT BRITAIN may now try to qualify for the 2008 Olympic football tournament after Scotland decided to bar its male and female players from taking part in the 2012 London Games.

Plans to stage the first event of the 2012 Olympics, the opening match of the football competition, at Hampden Park are now in jeopardy after the decision of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) to withhold its players from the world’s biggest sports event.

The SFA, worried that it will lose its independence, despite public assurances to the contrary from Fifa, world football’s governing body, told representatives of the other three home nations on Thursday of its decision. England and Northern Ireland will make their players available, while Wales has yet to decide.

Simon Clegg, the British Olympic Association chief executive, said yesterday: “It is with considerable disappointment that we have learnt of the SFA’s decision. We are disappointed that Scotland’s most talented athletes will be denied the chance of competing in the Games when they are being staged in their own country.

“However, the door remains open. The BOA will now sit down with the FA and the Northern Ireland FA to decide the process of how to enter teams.”

Asked if Britain male and female teams would try to qualify for the 2008 Games in Beijing, he said: “It is not impossible but I do not want to prejudice the discussions.”

Richard Caborn, the Minister for Sport, said: “Football is our national sport and it is really good news that there will be Team GB sides in 2012. I hope that the SFA may yet reconsider not to participate in the British teams. We have received clear assurances from Fifa that taking part would not compromise the separate status of the four home nations in international football.

“This should be a Games for the whole of the country, with everyone involved, sharing in the excitement and the real benefits the world’s greatest event can bring.”

In bidding for the Games, London always pledged to involve all the home countries in the football tournament and offered to hold the opening game of the 16-country men’s tournament at Hampden Park. This would precede the Olympic opening ceremony because of the need to complete the competition in less than three weeks.

David Davies, of the FA, who represents the sport on the National Olympic Committee, said: “Great Britain hosting the Olympic Games in 2012 provides a unique opportunity for football as well as for so many other sports. Many of us believe that, whatever our political concerns, we have a responsibility to give young players the chance to take advantage of that opportunity.”

Although Sepp Blatter, the Fifa President, had given assurances that having a Britain team in 2012 would not set a precedent for other international football events, the SFA claimed that Fifa would not hold this position in 2012.

Walter Smith, the Scotland manager, said yesterday: “We have independence as four countries within Fifa and Uefa. It might be we are all taking a chance by putting one team together for the Olympics.”

However, the SFA may come under pressure over the next seven years, particularly from female players. The women’s competition is open to players of all ages, but the men’s tournament is restricted to players who are 23 or under, although teams can include a maximum of three players of any age.

Looking great for 2008

Possible contenders for a Great Britain Olympic team in Beijing; includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland players if they all take part.

(4-4-2)
Scott Carson (England and Liverpool, 22)

Lee Wallace (Scotland and Hearts, 21)
Nedum Onuoha (England and Manchester City, 21)
Tom Huddlestone (England and Tottenham Hotspur, 21)
Richard Duffy (Wales and Portsmouth, 22)

James Milner (England and Newcastle United, 22)
* Steven Davis (Northern Ireland and Aston Villa, 23)
* Steven Gerrard (England and Liverpool, 28)
* Darren Fletcher (Scotland and Manchester United, 24)

Wayne Rooney (England and Manchester United, 22)

Cameron Jerome (left, Wales and Cardiff City, 22)

* Over-age player. Ages calculated for August 8, 2008.

Rules for Olympic football are the same as other big tournaments except that only three players in each squad aged over 23 are allowed.

TOM DART

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