Team GB debate rears its head once more as FA bosses

Team GB debate rears its head once more as FA bosses plan for a British Women's side at Tokyo 2020 Olympics

By Tom Coleman


Thursday 10th August 2017


The English Football Association has confirmed it is looking into the possibility of putting together a British women's football side for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, adding that fellow home nations are "not going to stand in the way" of the idea.

A failure to find an agreement between the four home nations meant Great Britain did not send a team to the 2016 games in Rio, but FA chief executive Martin Glenn says talks have taken place about entering a team in three years' time.

"They're not going to actively support us, but they're not going to stand in the way," he told BBC Sport.


"We've worked really hard with the other home nations to get them behind the idea that a British team would be good for football both in England but also in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

"We were very disappointed that for the Brazil Olympics we couldn't put in a British team because, for women's football, Olympic tournaments are disproportionately important compared to men's football."

The FAW, along with its counterparts in Scotland and Northern Ireland have previously voiced strong opposition to the idea in the regards to the men's game, citing fears that a Team GB could harm their respective independence with FIFA, the sport's world governing body.

However, opposition to sending a women's side is not quite so unified, with FAW chief Jonathan Ford even admitting back in April that he could "see the merit" in sending a team to Tokyo in 2020.

Kim Little of Great Britain shoots at goal during the first round match with Cameroon at the London 2012 Olympics
He told BBC Wales at the time: "For the women, I think most people would understand that allowing our players, coaches and managers the experience of going to major tournaments, including the Olympic Games, is worthy of consideration.

"I think people are open and are discussing it, but we will see where the conversation takes us."

However, the latest development has not been met with a great deal of enthusiasm from Welsh fans, many of whom took to social media to express their concerns.

The one and only time Team GB sent a women's football team to the Olympics was in 2012, where coach Hope Powell helped mastermind a run that took them to the quarter-final.

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Problem is it would English players heavy as the FA would want control of it all.

Should be seen as the football equivalent to the lions in my opinion but with a strict policy of X amount of players from each nation like a min of two players per nation in the squad

Should be seen as the football equivalent to the lions in my opinion but with a strict policy of X amount of players from each nation like a min of two players per nation in the squad

Why? It should be the best players I dont want two Jocks stuck in their just because of that even though none of them are good enough to make the squad on merit. All pointless anyway as it won't happen at least not on the male side.

And not a pair of tits between em.

And not a pair of tits between em.

Nubbsy you been spying again,?

And not a pair of tits between em.

So you'd be ok with two Jock women in the team as long as they had big tits perhaps swapping jerseys should be mandatory as well.

F@ck team GB

Caught a woman's Welsh team game last year, honestly they don't even deserve to be on the same pitch as the English ladies. They were so awful. It's not a sexist thing but i wouldn't play to watch the Welsh ladies, the quality is just so poor.