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Fifa urged to investigate Team GB row

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Published Date: 16 November 2008
FIFA has been urged to investigate allegations of "political interference" in the row over football's Team GB for the 2012 London Olympics.
If Fifa finds Scotland and the other three home associations guilty, it could suspend or even expel them from international competition until the governmental interference stops, as recently happened with the Polish FA.

The Scottish National Part
y urged an inquiry after 18 mainly Scottish Labour MPs signed an early day motion welcoming assurances given to Jim Murphy, the Scottish Secretary, by Fifa saying that a Team GB would not undermine Scotland's ability to compete in its own right in future tournaments.

Pete Wishart MP, SNP spokesperson at Westminster, said: "Fifa's statutes are clear: they do not allow political intervention from governments. But the Labour Government at Westminster is playing politics with the people's game by trying to force through a British Olympic football team with no regard for the views of the Scotland, Wales and N Ireland football authorities or the fans of all four home nations, who are united in their opposition to this daft and dangerous idea.

"Fifa should launch an investigation into the interference of the British Government, including the activities of Jim Murphy. The Scottish Football Association and the Tartan Army have made their opposition to an under-23 British football team at London 2012 because of the unacceptable risk to our status as an independent football nation."

Fifa has a strong policy against political interference in any football activity and has suspended more than 20 national associations in recent years after governments tried to dictate their policies.

In at least one case, the suspension followed MPs raising questions about the conduct of their national association.

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) said last night that it would "go along with and co-operate with" any Fifa inquiry.

A spokesman added: "All along we have not wanted this matter to become a political party debate.

"This is a footballing decision which should be taken by football people."

Scotland on Sunday has learned that top-level discussions took place within Hampden Park last week after news of the early day motion broke.

The significance of the motion was realised immediately, and the SFA's fears that the whole issue would blow up and become a party political matter have been realised.

An SFA insider said the association was "appalled" at the developments of last week, and now feared that other countries within Fifa would start asking questions about the special status afforded to the four home associations.

The source said: "This is what we feared all along. People really should be very careful with what they are doing on this issue as it could backfire on everyone."

Tartan Army members are already conducting a letter and e-mail campaign against Murphy and those MPs who signed the motion.

David Mundell, shadow secretary of state, is the only non-Labour MP to have signed so far.

It has also emerged that last year, Fifa president Sepp Blatter stated that a Team GB could even threaten the existence of the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League.

Quoted on Fifa's own website, Blatter said: "Definitely, when London hosts the Olympics, the women's and men's team will automatically qualify to play, but they will play under the nomination of Great Britain."

He added: "It doesn't matter to us if they decide to enter as one team, but then they would lose all their current privileges. There would be no Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish national teams and leagues.

"Can you imagine what British football would look like?"

A Scotland Office spokesman said: "Ministers regularly meet representatives of football associations. It is a shame that the SNP want to make a party political issue out of football."





Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 15 November 2008 7:12 PM
  • Source: Scotland On Sunday
  • Location: Scotland
  • Related Topics: London Olympics 2012
 
1

Rufus T. Firefly,

15/11/2008 22:42:50
What a load of xenophobic nonsense.

Why only for football? Every other sport will enter under the GB umbrella.

The SNP's real worry is that a team GB is actually successful. It might give Scotland fans the taste of success that they have never had.

They clearly believe this would work against their political aims. Football is secondary.

Aside from any political issues - a GB team at the Olympics would give a group of 20 or so young players the opportunity to experience something unique in competing at the Olympic Games.

I think it is shameful that so many would deny our young footballers that opportunity.
With a bit of thought, the FA's could work with the IOC to get a formal agreement with FIFA that a GB team being set up for a fortnight would not require any re-classification of the respective FAs for the UK.

This in-fighting is pathetic and lets balloons like Salmond politicise sport & the Olympic Games - to me, that is shameful.
2

,

16/11/2008 00:18:10
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3

Warden An' All, Reborn,

16/11/2008 00:19:14
Why don't FIFA file legal documents in guaranteeing our rights to secure our future within the organisation as seperate footballing nations, and at the same time allowing a GB football team for such event like the olympics?
4

,

16/11/2008 00:20:56
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5

,

16/11/2008 00:22:39
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6

tartan army 2222,

16/11/2008 00:35:52
#1 Rufus

"It might give Scotland fans the taste of success that they have never had."

You don't follow the national team do you. Yes we want Scotland to win but we know that generally that is little more than a forlorn hope. We follow the team because we love the team. As a Scotland fan I would rather watch Scotland lose every game for the next 30 years than watch a winning Team GB. And that has nothing to do with my political persuasions. Most unionist Scotland fans agree.

The people who are pushing for a Team GB are two-fold - politicians and those who do not follow football. I personally spend a lot of money following Scotland home and abroad and am more than a little angered that those listed are trying to dictate what direction Scottish football takes - leave it to the SFA and the fans.

This will, quite simply, mean the end of the Scotland team. Perhaps not right now but in the near future. You probably don't care because you don't follow them, but I do. The ironic thing is that the ending of the Scottish team will lead to the one thing that you continue to bluster on about on these boards - independence. If you remove the Scottish football team then the Scottish people will vote for independence.
7

Bzzzz,

Edinburgh 16/11/2008 02:43:16
Rufus you are obviously an idiot.

This is not a time for politics, it is time to understand that SCOTLAND supporters wnat to support SCOTLAND NOT some "team gb".

WE are football supporters and this decision is for US to make not politicians with ulterior motives which would end up being much to the detriment of football and would have very much influence socially.

Scotland supporters do not go to Scotland games to support the SNP or nationalism, we go to support our national side and this embraces the different political opinions and always has done. This is NOT a thing for politicians to use as a political toy. MILLIONS of people in this country support Scotland, if the unionists are stupid enough to make this a political issue then Scots would be the ones to suffer and that will win 0 votes.
8

Bzzzz,

Edinburgh 16/11/2008 02:50:57
The point being if this team gb goes ahead we (Scotland, england, wales and N ire) could all lose our national teams and even leagues.

Do you or any of these politicians know enough about football to deny the millions of people that enjoy and watch it the right to this? answer is no.

Leave alone what you dont understant.
9

Anne,

Eaglesham 16/11/2008 03:51:22
FIFA's own articles of association specify that no rulings are binding on future governing bodies.

In other words, assurances given by Sepp blatter now will not be worth the paper on which they're written when another president is elected.
10

Warden An' All, Reborn,

16/11/2008 06:48:36
11-Anne-That is why it will take legal papers to bind FIFA with what they say.
11

Warden An' All, Reborn,

16/11/2008 07:02:58
10-Wilhelm-In 1946 a Great Britain Team were put together for a game against a rest of Europe Team, which the Great Britain Team easily won, I think the score was something like 6-1, or something like that. The money made from the match, watched by a crowd of around 135,000 was around £35,000. This money was kindly handed over to FIFA who were in trouble and were ready to fold. The money saved FIFA and our British teams rejoined FIFA. FIFA owes Great Britain more than can be paid back in kind, and could have Britain legally recognised for special treatment with this Great Britain and single nation thing.
12

John S,

16/11/2008 07:26:25
An SFA insider said the association was "appalled" at the developments of last week, and now feared that other countries within Fifa would start asking questions about the special status afforded to the four home associations.

These questions have been/are being asked.

Ten years ago, there was a formal Caribbean motion to end Wales’ existence as a World Cup team by forcing them to play under one Great Britain banner. The move only received three votes at a Fifa congress, but Wales have always feared since it would raise its head again one day.
The Olympic ideology being pushed forward by the powers-that-be, they argue, could be just the excuse the Caribbean and African nations need.Jul 26 2008

Britain's .......no other country has such a privilege and the situation has long been a source of envy to other FIFA members. Mar 24, 2002

Fifa president Sepp Blatter said despite the disgruntlement of many federations around the world .... Sep 03, 2005

....... called due to fears that a campaign to abolish Britain's privileged position on FIFA would gather unstoppable momentum. May 29 2007

13

A Scott,

Glasgow 16/11/2008 07:27:48
Who are the 18 MP,s ?????????? Anybody know???
14

John S,

16/11/2008 07:42:26
#15 A Scott.
Scots MPs back British Olympic soccer team
The 18 Scotland-linked MPs were among 21 to sign an Early Day Motion put down by Labour's Jim Sheridan (Paisley and Renfrewshire North).

It reads: "This House welcomes the assurances given by Fifa that a 2012 Olympics UK football team would not undermine any of the home countries' ability to compete in their own right in future events."

It was signed by 12 Labour colleagues with seats north of the Border, as well as David Mundell, the shadow Scottish secretary, (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale).

The MPs are: John Robertson (Glasgow North West), Jim Devine (Livingston), Jim Hood (Lanark and Hamilton East), Brian Donohoe (Ayrshire Central), Anne Moffat (East Lothian), Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow Central), Anne McGuire (Stirling), Russell Brown (Dumfries and Galloway), Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and Falkirk East), Anne Begg (Aberdeen South), Ian Davidson (Glasgow South West) and Jim McGovern (Dundee West).

Other Labour MPs putting their names to the motion were Edinburgh-born Doug Henderson (Newcastle Upon Tyne North), Greenock-born Andy Love (Edmonton), Coatbridge-born Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) and Dumfries-born Ian Gibson (Norwich North). Labour colleagues David Anderson (Blaydon), Alan Keen (Feltham and Heston) and Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston) also signed it.
Scotsman-14 November 2008:::http://tinyurl.com/6flyw8
15

Roy,

16/11/2008 07:43:48
This from The Unscotsman of 14 Nov. Gibraltar Jim's idea apparently:

"The 18 Scotland-linked MPs were among 21 to sign an Early Day Motion put down by Labour's Jim Sheridan (Paisley and Renfrewshire North).

It reads: "This House welcomes the assurances given by Fifa that a 2012 Olympics UK football team would not undermine any of the home countries' ability to compete in their own right in future events."

It was signed by 12 Labour colleagues with seats north of the Border, as well as David Mundell, the shadow Scot- tish secretary, (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale).

The MPs are: John Robertson (Glasgow North West), Jim Devine (Livingston), Jim Hood (Lanark and Hamilton East), Brian Donohoe (Ayrshire Central), Anne Moffat (East Lothian), Mohammad Sarwar (Glasgow Central), Anne McGuire (Stirling), Russell Brown (Dumfries and Galloway), Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and Falkirk East), Anne Begg (Aberdeen South), Ian Davidson (Glasgow South West) and Jim McGovern (Dundee West).

Other Labour MPs putting their names to the motion were Edinburgh-born Doug Henderson (Newcastle Upon Tyne North), Greenock-born Andy Love (Edmonton), Coatbridge-born Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) and Dumfries-born Ian Gibson (Norwich North). Labour colleagues David Anderson (Blaydon), Alan Keen (Feltham and Heston) and Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston) also signed it."
16

Warden An' All, Reborn,

16/11/2008 08:46:39
FIFA rules states members must be independent football nations, which some looking at the home nations say we don't have. They say Great Britain is one football nation. Their error is due to them not realising we have independent football bodies, and so independent football nations.
17

We are responsible for ourselves.,

16/11/2008 08:53:45
If this were a universally popular idea why did only 18 out of 646 MP's sign the motion?
18

Warden An' All, Reborn,

16/11/2008 09:07:18
20-We are responsible for ourselves-Quick guess here, but I would say a whole row of gold medals from the last Olympics might have something to do with it, why not footballing gold medals too?
19

tartan army 2222,

16/11/2008 09:37:40
18 Daniel Rober

Do I have to explain again? This is not about politics. It's not about stopping sporting events. It's about retaining the Scottish national football team which will, should Team GB go ahead, be disbanded.

So in reality it is you who wants to stop a sporting event ie every game played by Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. All for the sake of a pointless under-23 championship that pretty much no-one in this country has ever previously watched.
20

eric,

16/11/2008 10:04:55
GO AHEAD,it just means quite a few more votes for snp.
21

Ross,

16/11/2008 10:31:41
I agree with Salmond and the SNP.
I believe we should have our own Scottish team for the Olympics. One simple argument is that Scottish athletes would have a better chance of being apart of these big occassions than in a team GB.
Look at the population of England and Scotland and that tels you everything.
22

Warden An' All, Reborn,

16/11/2008 10:54:27
The arguement is would our atheletes, or enough of them, get the degree of funding required to compete in any worthwhile manner?
23

james 1st,

hamilton nz 16/11/2008 10:55:42
look at the number of athletes scotland had in team great britain and northern ireland at the last olympics,some were successful, but the overall number eas pathetic. an independent team would be much larger and give more young scottish athletes something to aspire to
new zealand has 4 million people and sent 185 athletes to take part i am not sure but i think scotland had about 30 as part of the english team [how many of the team were not english?]
24

james 1st,

hamilton nz 16/11/2008 10:57:22
i would like to see all four home nations suspended by fifa that would make those politicians who signed this motion really popular
25

ZenBroon,

Lunnon 16/11/2008 11:08:52
No, no it's not politics. Just a reminder that back in September Seb Coe,one-time Tory poster boy and chair of the London Organising Committee for the Games was asked his opinion on opposition from the Welsh and Scots to a GB footie team. He replied “F*** them!”. And of course Labour poster geriatric and by-election hero Alex Ferguson is also micturating himself to be manager of the GB team at the Games.
26

Wee Fred,

16/11/2008 11:14:17
Why not have a team for Grampian, a team for Shetlands, a team for Strathclyde, a team for The Borders?


Where do we stop this idiocy?
27

Toast,

16/11/2008 11:24:18
What a fab idea,the rules should insist that there is at least one Scottish player in the squad so we have somebody to cheer for,like any real Scottish football fan would support a UK team,much simpler give us our "freedom" and we can have our own olympic team.Just more of Brown machinations,one mans desperate attempt to cling onto power he has no right to
28

Mr. Lachie Todd,

Edinburgh 16/11/2008 11:50:33
This matter has nothing to do with politics or nationalism? The Scots are fitba' daft!

The whole world knows association football is the national sport in Scotland. Why should the Scottish
Football Association place in jeopardy its unique football independence for the sake of a couple of pointless football matches just to suit the BOA?

The Scots Secretary has had a meeting with some obscure FIFA official who allegedly gave him a verbal assurance that IF the SFA allowed its registered under-23 players to take part in a GB team then it would not endanger
the UK Home Nations unique articles of association?

By 2012, Jim Murphy and this FIFA official will probably no longer be in office!

IF Scotland lost its unique articles of association to field a national football team then it would also loose its present membership with UEFA to include the annual winners of its domestic competitions in the UEFA and Champions League tournaments, along with the myriad of other competitions arranged by UEFA. Indeed, the very future of the SFA, SPL, and SFL would be put at risk!

We would no longer be able to compete against teams like Argentina who are coming this week to play a friendly at Hampden!

Unless FIFA hold a meeting and alter its rules to protect the Home Nations unique articles of association then verbal assurances are absolutely worthless!

Let us have it in writing!

29

Fi,

Edinburgh 16/11/2008 12:28:52
This entire debate sickens me, and highlights the hatred and war-like attitude that rival football teams (local, national or international) generate.

There is so much violence, abuse and intollerance associated with football that I'd rather it was banned from the Olympics. That would have the pleasant side affect of making you lot all be quiet.
30

All Politicians are the same,

Scotland 16/11/2008 12:38:00
The British Lions rugby union team tour every 4 years supported by all 4 home unions who do not seem to fear anything. Surely a one off event at under 23 level is not going to lead to anything. Who would take our place? Even andorra can field a national team we are hardly keeping out first rate fotballing powers.
31

John S,

16/11/2008 12:57:42
Jim Murphy under the Scotland Act 1998-devolved matters include:sport.
So why did Jim get involved with the Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke, is this part of his duty as the the Scottish Secretary ?
Early Day Motion-This House welcomes the assurances given by Fifa that a 2012 Olympics UK football team.....but Fifa did not give any such assurance it was the Fifa general secretary giving this assurance and these 18 mainly Scottish Labour MPs believed the Fifa general secretary ?
32

tartan army 2222,

16/11/2008 13:12:47
36 All Politicians

Rugby Union is completely different. Remove the Home Nations and you only have about three decent teams left. None of the other nations want to reduce the four home nations into one. In football they have already tried to do this on a couple of occasions. To be honest I can see why they would want to do that - more places for other nations at World Cups, Euros.

As to a one-off event not leading to anything - Blatter has already said it would be a problem. Do you want to take that chance? The only way to ensure the continued autonomy of the Scottish team is not to take part in this. Written guarantees are not worth the paper they are written on because, and herein lies the main point, FIFA is a democratic organisation. No individual member can give an assurance and any written assurance given by the present body can be removed by a later one.
33

Pilrig,

Livingston 16/11/2008 14:13:23
1 - why not follow your argument to it's logical conclusion and abolish the 4 UK associations ?

Also who gives a t*ss what other sports do ?

You obviously.
34

Pilrig,

Livingston 16/11/2008 14:17:44
3 - such naivety.
FIFA rulings arenae set in stone for perpetuity. If in the future a majority of FIFA member associations decide to rescind the right that the UK has four associations, then FIFA being a democratic organization os boind to bow to that ruling.
35

Pilrig,

Livingston 16/11/2008 14:20:02
12 - what legal documents ? and how in what law would they be binding ?
36

Pilrig,

Livingston 16/11/2008 14:21:52
19 and if someone, either South American, African or enthusiast for Team GB points out the error to them ?
37

Pilrig,

Livingston 16/11/2008 14:24:58
18 "football is not politics" ? Tell G. Broon and the the Olympic fitba team supporters' club (Westminster branch) that.
38

Pilrig,

Livingston 16/11/2008 14:28:04
35 welcome to the world of fitba !

Olympics - gtf !
39

Warden An' All, Reborn,

16/11/2008 14:58:09
39-Pilrig- I thought the point was to accommodate the home nations, and to extend our influence within the Olympic movement with the game we helped to create.
40

Warden An' All, Reborn,

16/11/2008 15:09:12
40-Pilrig-The FIFA rulings are not set in stone that is right, but any legally binding agreements wouldn’t be so easily broken, and so this should be the path the parties involved must take.
41

Warden An' All, Reborn,

16/11/2008 15:18:14
41-Pilrig-It would be up to the parties involved, and their legal representatives to sign the contracts. No different to any other contracts signed every day.
42

Warden An' All, Reborn,

16/11/2008 15:20:00
42-Pilrig-That is what errors are there for, being pointed out.
43

Warden An' All, Reborn,

16/11/2008 15:23:17
43-Pilrig-How ignorant would you have to be not to realise that everything is politic?
44

P Rayner.,

Latin America. 16/11/2008 18:01:12
The issue of the four home football associations losing their independence is a complete non story continually massaged by the SNP. There was and will be again in 2012 a GB football team with the home nations continuing as before, independent. No football association would wish to dispense with a fixture involving England, a guaranteed payday, weeks out in plush London hotels, Wembley stadium, perhaps Buckingham Palace and a nice hunk of change in the pocket. This they get now and similarly repeated four times.
45

chj,

glasgow 16/11/2008 18:23:24
The threat to our national football associations is a strong arguement against a GB team but is not the only reason people in scotland don't support the idea. If olympic events were distributed throughout the Uk then there would have been more support for a GB team but as it is the whole event will take place in the south of england (for the 3rd time).
46

Teofilio Cubillas,

16/11/2008 18:33:44
#36

The British and Irish Lions used to tour with the support of all four nations (hell, I even cheered on Brian Moore when he wore a red shirt). That changed in 2005 when Woodward picked his England mates and few Welshmen, leaving out players like Jason White so that the elderly English back row could have a last hurrah. There were more New Zealand players with a Scottish heritage than Lions players. Sad to say, but I couldn't have cared less when they were duly thrashed by the All Blacks.
47

A Scott,

Newton Mearns 16/11/2008 18:42:07
37..John S.......Murphy craves publicity. He comments on Education( ironic coming from a Univ drop out) , crime etc in the local weekly paper the fact they are devolved matters has not stopped him over the last 10yrs and loves gettin pics of himself printed (Jim tieing his laces that sort of thing)
He now see,s himself as the Scottish Governor General and the "Scottish"press jist love his attacks on the SNP and jist like the local paper give him all the publicity he craves...The only good news is that sooner rather than later he will be found out.
P.S. Since the arrival of our new Gov Gen has anybody Seen/Heard of Iain Gray ????????????????
48

A Scott,

Newton Mearns 16/11/2008 18:47:50
#18 Danielrober...."football is NOT politics its not.(sounded as if you were gettin a wee bit excited there danny ma man)
Jist you tell that to the Great Broon or the Skull they would both p..h themselves laffin.
49

Pilrig,

Livingston 16/11/2008 19:51:30
Warden - there's as much enthusiasm amongst the fitba fans for this allegedly one-off Olympic tourney as there is for a end of season friendly on a midweek night.

Fitba disnae need the Olympics - it's got the World Cup and the Euro Championships after all. So why bother with this Mickey Mouse competition, if there's the slightest chance of the integrity of the UK associations being put in doubt ? It isnae worth it. The Olympics count for zilch in the fitba world.

But don't worry - there WILL be a GB Olympic fitba team for 2012 (organised by the FA in all probability ), we wouldn't want Gordon to go into a wee huff now , would we ?

I doubt that Sentanta will be bidding to broadcast Team GB's games somehow.
50

,

16/11/2008 22:22:41
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Reason:
51

Brian Hill,

Edinburgh 16/11/2008 23:35:07
Labour will do anything that suits its needs. It has no qualms about risking destruction of other organisations standing in its way.

Currently it is HBOS and an Independent Scottish Football Team being threatened by it avaricious desire to save itself by saving the union.

No union = Labour being replaced as the dominant force in Scotland by the SNP and finding itself in a dogfight with the Lib Dems as the main opposition to the Tories in England.

Looks like they're coming unstuck already on the GB football team front and even if they win the HBOS battle the effects on Scotland will be so grave it will be a pyrrhic victory indeed as the voters 'thank them' for their efforts in subsequent elections.

52

3shots,

Dumfries 17/11/2008 14:10:07
The first comment talks of Scotland tasting success, I'm confused what success could we taste that any other home nation has. OH I see it was about 42 years ago (not the living memory of a great deal of people anymore). Being in the Semi's aint success if you dont go on to win.

No Team GB is not about the Scotland team its about all 4 home nations. If FIFA force us to amalgamate the UEFA will force the leagues to amalgamate and all Scots, N.Irish, Welsh and English play in 1 league structure. Teams will fold through increased travel costs and less fans willing to travel.

Its made to look like this is Scots against Britain because we are more vocal on the issue when I as a nationalist am trying to preserve all football in the UK as we know it.


 

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