Row rages over British Olympic team

The British Olympic Association’s claim yesterday that they had reached agreement to field a Great Britain football team at the London Olympics next year were ridiculed by among others Northern Irishman Jim Boyce, vice-president of FIFA.

The BOA had announced a deal had been done but later yesterday that claim was clearly denied by the Welsh while the Scots had made it clear on Monday that a deal was unlikely given the attitude of their players.

Boyce said that news of a deal came as a great surprise.

“The three associations (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) have made it clear to me they will not be changing their decision about a British Olympic team and I know nothing about any agreement,” said Boyce.

Phil Pritchard, president of the Welsh FA, was furious at the BOA announcement.

“We’re not part of any agreement. The FA have no authority to speak on our behalf, they do not represent us,” he said.

Football Association of Wales chief executive Jonathan Ford said the deal was a figment of the BOA’s imagination.