Sports minister Hugh Robertson urges FAs to get behind Team GB proposal

London 2012 Logo And Brand Identity(Getty Images)

Related Links

Teams

Sports minister Hugh Robertson has urged fans, politicians and members of Football Associations across Great Britain to reach an agreement for a Team GB to be formed for the 2012 Olympics.

The announcement of a British team by the British Olympic Association (BOA) and the English FA was met with fury by the Football Associations of Scotland and Wales, who stated they wanted no part in any such team.

The minister admitted he was not taken aback by how much controversy the statement caused because he was aware of how sensitive the issue had become.

However, Robertson is hoping the organisations can put their differences aside and just concentrate on the good the competition will do for the athletes involved.

Robertson told Sky Sports News: “If I am honest, I wasn’t particularly surprised by the furore because it has been a contentious issue for a while now.

“My message to everybody is really a very simple one in all of this. I understand the politics, I understand the sensibilities, but please, please let’s put the politics aside and concentrate on the athletes.”

If an agreement is reached between the associations of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the men’s team will feature 18 players under the age of 23 from all the associations with three players exempt from the age restrictions.