English FA stick to guns in Olympic row

The Football Association insist they have letters from the other home nations accepting their right to select Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish players for British Olympic football teams.

The three other home associations are adamant they are not party to the “historic agreement” announced by the British Olympic Association on Tuesday.

FA general secretary Alex Horne said: “We have been very clear since the Olympic games were awarded to London that the FA is committed to Team GB football teams.

“We have been flexible in working with the BOA and other home nations regarding the makeup and selection for these teams being a collective of all home nations, or all English sides.

“It is clear that under the Olympic Charter there has to be a non-discriminatory selection process for all players. These are not the FA rules.

“We are sensitive to the concerns of the other home associations in relation to each of our individual identities, and we have been assured by FIFA there is no threat to each association.

However as an organisation the FA has been mandated by the BOA to organise a men’s and women’s team for the 2012 Olympic football tournament across the UK.

“All three associations have notified us in writing that they acknowledge that legally we are entitled to support the BOA in the selection process.”

The sale of 1.7 million Olympic football tickets will begin tomorrow but the BOA insist that has “absolutely no bearing” on the timing of their announcement.