By David Gold
May 6 – Scotland and Glasgow Celtic winger James Forrest would not play for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics if the football tournament clashed with his club commitments.
The international player, who has five senior caps, is on a long-list of 80 players from which coach Stuart Pearce will choose his Olympic squad – the first time Team GB will compete since a failed qualifying campaign for the 1972 Games.
Forrest (pictured top, on right) has previously said that he would want to play in the Games despite opposition from the Scottish Football Association (SFA), along with its Welsh and Northern Irish counterparts, to the fielding of a joint British team.
The tournament is to be played between July 26 and August 11, meaning it will clash with the Champions League qualifiers for the 2012-2013 season.
Celtic has received a bye to the third qualifying round after winning the Scottish Premier League title, helped in part by the financial meltdown at arch-rivals Glasgow Rangers.
“Club comes first, obviously,” said the 20-year-old.
“I haven’t spoken to Stuart Pearce, but I think if Celtic have qualifiers I’ll be staying with the club.”
However, he added: “It would be a great honour to play in the Olympics.
“I think a lot of folk have received letters.
Team-mates Scott Brown and Adam Matthews could also be in contention for the squad, having featured on the long-list along with Tottenham Hotspur’s Welsh international winger Gareth Bale, former England, Manchester United and Real Madrid midfield star David Beckham and, it is believed, England’s out-of-favour midfielder Joe Cole, currently playing for 2010-2011 French champions Lille (pictured above, in red).
The men’s football tournament is for under-23 players although three overage exceptions are allowed per squad.
Team GB has been drawn with Uruguay, Senegal and the United Arab Emirates in the men’s football draw for this summer’s Games.
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