[Miyazaki]

Seems rather baffling to me.

Once every 4 years the best of the home nations and Ireland come together to play Rugby at the highest level in a series of scintillating tests.

Once every 4 years the best of the home nations come together to play Football at the Olympics and try to win another gold for team GB... except oh wait no they don't.

Why?

[johnscarlet]

Thought this had been sorted and there will be a TeamGB.
Its all to do with the Home Nations wanting to keep their separate identities

[mooperman]

yeah as i understood it the home nations were worried that if they gave up their independance for olympic football that FIFA would force everyone to have a permanent team GB for Euro and World cup events....

[sdb123]

As johnscarlet said this has recently been sorted AFAIK.

[davidegee]

hasn't it only been sorted so far as there will be an entry from GB into the football, but the team will only be made up of English players? I thought the other nations were not going to allow their players to participate..

[ducattigezzer]

the simple answer is politics and idiots

[Steven]

Not baffling. Blatter will not come out and categorically provide a guaranteed assurance that a GB football team at the Olympics will not mean he will try to amalgamate the 4 teams forever

[Miyazaki]

Originally Posted by davidegee

hasn't it only been sorted so far as there will be an entry from GB into the football, but the team will only be made up of English players? I thought the other nations were not going to allow their players to participate..

Exactly, I wouldn't call that sorted, nor team GB.

[DJT75]

Sorted as best it can be then......

[loz]

Given the shortage of national rugby teams the ruling authorities are hardly likely to want to get rid of 2 of them...

As the 6 nations is probably one of the sport's biggest money spinners (at an international level), they aren't going to want to reduce it to the 4 nations.

Whereas everyone and his dog has a national football team, and reducing the UK contingient, and their voting rights, might be seen as attractive (politically) to some.

[ps3mad]

Is it going to be GB team with just English players then?

[andrewrunagall]

Originally Posted by ps3mad

Is it going to be GB team with just English players then?

Yes, I heard on Sky News the other day that the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish FA's are going to "turn a blind eye" to the British Olympic football team being made up entirely of English players.

But as the Olympic rules state, there can only be 3 players over the age of 23, and with the Euro U-21 championships coming up very soon, it should be a good preview for the Olympics.