Olympic football coach Pearce "saddened" by Team GB opposition

By David Gold

January 21 – Team GB men’s football coach Stuart Pearce (pictured) has spoken of his sadness that Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales do not want their players to be a part of his squad for the Olympic Games in London this summer.

Pearce has pledged to pick the best players available from all the home nations, despite their opposition to the team.

The Football Associations of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales all fear that their football independence in FIFA will be compromised by their involvement with the collective British team.

This week, Scottish Football Association chief Stewart Regan claimed that players from his country representing Team GB may face a backlash from fans opposed to their involvement.

“I find it saddening,” Pearce told Real Radio.

“The bottom line is that it is down to the players.

“No one from FIFA has said [their independence] is under threat.

“I’m not overly sure where that is coming from.

“I find it a little bit sad, but that’s the way it is.

“I think anyone who wants to better themselves [should] take my experience: three tournaments in 12 years of international football.

“They come around so rarely and perhaps more so for the Scottish, the Northern Irish and the Welsh.”

FIFA, which organises the football tournament for the Olympics, has already said that it will be making an exception to allow the home nations to compete together.

However, Regan (pictured) argued: “There are elements within FIFA who are challenging and have challenged the existence of the four nations.

“Equally, the power the four nations have with a British-based President and the voting we have on IFAB (International Football Association Board), where we have between us half of the votes on the laws of the game worldwide.

“That’s 125 years old and seen as a high-profile exclusive privilege.

“And why should it exist?

“What we don’t want to do is introduce any risk.”

A total of 191 players have so far been contacted by the Football Association (FA) as to whether they are interested in playing for Team GB, with an outstanding response to date.

Big names including Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Gareth Bale have indicated their desire to play.

This week Beckham renewed his contract with LA Galaxy, and it is reported that the deal allows him to leave to play for Team GB during the Olympics, at a time when the MLS campaign will be in full flow.

Pearce also yesterday insisted that his squad would be chosen entirely on merit, and no one, including Beckham, was guaranteed a place in the squad.

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