Outrage over British Olympic soccer team

Soccer:The leaders of Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland football have reacted with outrage at an "historic" announcement by the British Olympic Association that players from all home nations will be eligible for selection for Team GB at the London 2012 Games.

The announcement by the BOA was made with the knowledge of the Football Association but came as a shock to the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish FAs.

It means young players such as Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey of Wales, Northern Ireland's Jonny Evans and Scotland's Barry Bannan could play in a Great Britain shirt next year. It also affects selection for the women's team.

The BOA said the FA had consulted the other associations about player selection. A 'long list' of players from across Britain will be drawn up by the managers of the men's and women's teams, and the players each asked to confirm their availability. An announcement of the two squads of 18 players will be made in the summer of 2012.

Welsh FA president Phil Pritchard was furious, saying: "We are not part of any agreement. The 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."

SFA chief executive Stewart Regan spoke to his FA counterpart Alex Horne as recently as last night but was not aware any announcement was to be made.

Regan said tonight he was "very surprised and disappointed" at Horne's comments in the BOA statement, where the FA general secretary said he was "pleased that the team will be selected from players across the home nations".

Horne said: "I'd like to thank our counterparts at the Welsh, Irish and Scottish FAs for their understanding on what is a difficult issue.

"We will look to confirm coaches of the men's and women's teams in due course to allow them to plan and prepare their squads for the games."

The BOA claimed that all the associations were aware there could be an announcement this month.

A BOA spokesman said "Contact (from the FA) has been continuing with the home Associations right up to the last 24 hours as part of a consultation process that has been ongoing for the last 18 months. All the home associations were aware of the prospective timeline, including the possibility of an initial announcement in June, since mid-May."

The three home associations have long opposed an all-British team at the London Games, fearing it could affect their separate identities in world football, and saying the team should be made up of English players only.

There has been a stand-off for the last couple of years with the BOA insisting the Olympic Charter would not allow them to discriminate against players from other parts of Britain.

A joint statement from the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish FAs claimed their views had been ignored. The statement said: "No discussions took place with any of us, far less historic agreement been reached, prior to the statement from the BOA being released.

"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."

The British men's team will be made up of under-23s but three over-age players are also allowed. The women's team can be of any age.

The last time Team GB was represented in the men's competition was the 1960 Games in Rome. It has never competed in the women's Olympic football tournament.

BOA chief executive Andy Hunt said: "Seeing Team GB take to the pitch in 2012 will be one of the defining moments of the London Olympic Games. It would be unthinkable to host the Olympic Games in Great Britain, home of the world's most knowledgeable and passionate football fans, and not have Team GB represented in both men's and women's football."