THE chief executive of the British Olympic Association (BOA) is to write to Scotland’s top woman’s footballer Julie Fleeting (pictured) over her claim that she will refuse to represent Team GB in 2012.
As reported in insidethegames, she is fearful that a united Great Britain football team in the London Olympics will threaten Scotland’s right to compete as an independent team in competitions like the World Cup and European Championships.
Fleeting would be serous contender for a place in any British team, having scored 93 goals in 86 internationals for Scotland and 29 so far this season for Arsenal.
“I will be writing to Julie just so she is clear,” said Simon Clegg.
“What she has been told is factually incorrect.
“We have been given assurances by (FIFA chief executive) Sepp Blatter and I wouldn’t want any athlete, any footballer, making their decision based upon incorrect information.
“I think I have an obligation to correct her.”
Great Britain will qualify to enter a team at the Beijing Olympics if England finish in the top three European teams at the women’s World Cup this September.
The BOA want to enter a side representative of all four Home Unions and Clegg will keep working on the Scottish Football Association.
Clegg said: “We have made a commitment that if the English girls team qualify for the 2008 Olympics we will take a team to Beijing because it will help them prepare for London.
“It will give them an understanding of what it will be like to compete in a multi-sport environment.
“We will be entering a GB football team in 2012 and it would be bizarre if we were unable to select from the four Home Nations.
“I am not going to close the door on any discussions.
“It is our desire to have a properly represented team. We will continue to work with them to try and provide the reassurances they need.
“The BOA would not support the breakdown of the Home Nation associations into a British body. That will not happen.”