Global football consultation launched

Alyn Smith MEP has teamed up with MSP Stuart McMillan to launch a global survey of all 204 national football association members of FIFA to canvass international opinion on the desirability of Team GB and the inclusion of football at the London 2012 Olympics.

 

The SNP duo back the Scottish Football Association in their view that the inclusion of football in the Olympics is simply undesirable on the grounds that:

 

* The Olympics is not the pinnacle of achievement in football. The World Cup and European Championships are regarded as the major tournaments;

 

* The Olympics football tournament is designated as an Under 23 contest, specifically in order to avoid undermining the FIFA World Cup. This restriction de-values the involvement of football and introduces a discriminatory element which is unique to the sport; and

 

* The Olympic Games take place in August which simply does not fit with the footballing calendar.

 

The pair have written to all 204 national football associations, from Albania to Zambia, to make them aware of the joint position adopted by the Northern Irish, Welsh and Scots FA that the inclusion of football in the Olympics is simply undesirable for the sport, and asking for the views of the FAs to gauge what sort of enthusiasm exists for the Olympics amongst footballers.

 

Smith and McMillan are of the view that the UK government and UK Olympic Association are looking increasingly out of step with the international opinion on this issue, and that the inclusion of a Team GB football team in the London Olympics is a poorly conceived political project and should be shelved.

 

The move follows the intervention of UEFA President Michel Platini in a letter to Alyn Smith in which he said: "You may rest assured that I am most firmly committed to the independent status of the Scottish Football Association and that UEFA has no plans to alter that status or the status of the other home football associations."

 

Smith said:

 

"This is not just about the independence of the SFA, the inclusion of football in the Olympics alongside synchronised swimming, archery and other worthy but minority sports is just wrong headed. A Team GB for football will not only establish a damaging precedent against the SFA, but will also undermine the other major football tournaments and from the discussions I have had I am pretty confident that not only is there no real appetite outside of New Labour for this to happen, I think we're in with a shout of heading it off altogether.

 

"There is still a long way to go before the London Olympics, and I'll not let this rest."

 

Stuart McMillan added:

 

"I'm disappointed to see the Westminster Government is continuing with the idea of a Team GB football team at the Olympics. There is no appetite for this within Scotland and for that matter within the football associations of Wales or Northern Ireland.

 

"This ill-thought out idea must be stopped before it damages the independence of the SFA and undermines Scotland's footballing reputation. This is why both Alyn and myself feel it necessary to write to the 204 national football associations to gauge their opinions on this important matter."