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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| FA of Wales criticised over 2012 | FA of Wales criticised over 2012 |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Welsh football's governing body has been accused of depriving its players of the opportunity to take part in the London Olympics. | Welsh football's governing body has been accused of depriving its players of the opportunity to take part in the London Olympics. |
| The British Olympic Association (BOA) is pressing ahead with plans to field a Great Britain football team in 2012. | The British Olympic Association (BOA) is pressing ahead with plans to field a Great Britain football team in 2012. |
| BOA chief executive Simon Clegg said he was "disappointed" that the Football Association of Wales (FAW) had refused approaches to discuss the matter. | BOA chief executive Simon Clegg said he was "disappointed" that the Football Association of Wales (FAW) had refused approaches to discuss the matter. |
| The FAW said the World Cup and European Championships were more important. | The FAW said the World Cup and European Championships were more important. |
| The football governing bodies of Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland are all opposed to a Great Britain team, fearing the implications for their own futures as separate entities. | The football governing bodies of Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland are all opposed to a Great Britain team, fearing the implications for their own futures as separate entities. |
| A source within the Football Association, English football's governing body, said there would be a GB team at London 2012 even if it meant fielding 11 Englishmen. Our supporters and the media wishes to see Wales playing in the World Cup and the European Championship FAW secretary David Collins Have your say: Should Wales join a GB team for 2012? | A source within the Football Association, English football's governing body, said there would be a GB team at London 2012 even if it meant fielding 11 Englishmen. Our supporters and the media wishes to see Wales playing in the World Cup and the European Championship FAW secretary David Collins Have your say: Should Wales join a GB team for 2012? |
| The BOA said it would be "madness" if there was no GB team at the event. | The BOA said it would be "madness" if there was no GB team at the event. |
| "We've had three meetings now on this issue and I'm disappointed, obviously, that there hasn't been any engagement at all [from the FAW]," said Mr Clegg in an interview with BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye political programme. | "We've had three meetings now on this issue and I'm disappointed, obviously, that there hasn't been any engagement at all [from the FAW]," said Mr Clegg in an interview with BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye political programme. |
| "Whether we like it or not, football is an integral part of the Olympic Games. | "Whether we like it or not, football is an integral part of the Olympic Games. |
| "And it would seem madness to me, incompatible for me, to host that event and actually not have representation in what is our national sport." | "And it would seem madness to me, incompatible for me, to host that event and actually not have representation in what is our national sport." |
| But Mr Clegg said he had a "great deal of sympathy" with the FAW's position. | But Mr Clegg said he had a "great deal of sympathy" with the FAW's position. |
| "I think we have to work with the IOC [International Olympic Committee], Fifa [world football's governing body] to get the FAW into a position where they are given the comfort they need so they are not depriving their athletes of participating in this event," he said. | "I think we have to work with the IOC [International Olympic Committee], Fifa [world football's governing body] to get the FAW into a position where they are given the comfort they need so they are not depriving their athletes of participating in this event," he said. |
| The FAW said its views had always been made known, along with the governing bodies of football in Scotland and Northern Ireland. | The FAW said its views had always been made known, along with the governing bodies of football in Scotland and Northern Ireland. |
| FAW secretary David Collins said: "Our supporters and the media wishes to see Wales playing in the World Cup and the European Championship. | FAW secretary David Collins said: "Our supporters and the media wishes to see Wales playing in the World Cup and the European Championship. |
| Have your say href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5472">Why is football in the Olympic Games? I thought there was already an event for synchronised divingCharles Pooter, London | |
| "The European Championship and the World Cup are the major events and we are not willing to jeopardise our future in those competitions for one year in the Olympics." | "The European Championship and the World Cup are the major events and we are not willing to jeopardise our future in those competitions for one year in the Olympics." |
| Wales Under-21 boss and former Wales player Brian Flynn said: "We're Welsh, Welsh and more Welsh. | Wales Under-21 boss and former Wales player Brian Flynn said: "We're Welsh, Welsh and more Welsh. |
| "Our association alongside Scotland and [Northern] Ireland...the party line is we want to keep our independence and that's so important to us." | "Our association alongside Scotland and [Northern] Ireland...the party line is we want to keep our independence and that's so important to us." |
| Plaid Cymru MP Adam Price said it was not worth risking the future of the Wales football team for a one-off event. | Plaid Cymru MP Adam Price said it was not worth risking the future of the Wales football team for a one-off event. |
| "It would be absolutely pig-headed if the BOA was willing to risk our football heritage in Wales for the sake of having a bit of PR and for them being able to say they have a Great British football side," he said. | "It would be absolutely pig-headed if the BOA was willing to risk our football heritage in Wales for the sake of having a bit of PR and for them being able to say they have a Great British football side," he said. |
| Labour AM Lesley Griffiths has also expressed concern about plans for a GB football team at the London Olympics. | Labour AM Lesley Griffiths has also expressed concern about plans for a GB football team at the London Olympics. |
| "For the sake of a handful of matches over the course of a fortnight four years hence, I think it's simply not worth it and therefore I could not support it," she said. | "For the sake of a handful of matches over the course of a fortnight four years hence, I think it's simply not worth it and therefore I could not support it," she said. |