Ferguson dismisses idea of British 2012 team

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said the idea of a British soccer team playing at the 2012 London Olympics was a non-starter. Ferguson had been named as the ideal coach for a combined team by 2012 organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe...

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said the idea of a British soccer team playing at the 2012 London Olympics was a non-starter.

Ferguson had been named as the ideal coach for a combined team by 2012 organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe last week, with Coe telling BBC Radio Five Live that he had discussed the issue with the Scot.

But Ferguson dismissed the idea. "I hope I'm still on this planet in 2012, first of all. I'll be 70 years of age then," he told a news conference.

"I would not in any way, shape or form try to commit myself to anything like that. I'm not sure they'd allow it. Countries have their own identity, their own patriotism.

"It has been mooted for a number of years by FIFA at the World Cup that Great Britain has a team.

"It would be impractical - Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, even England, they all have their own identities, so I don't think it is a starter."

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