Team GB

What's the problem?!

Surely if Bale and Ramsey play for Team GB in the Olympics, it would raise the profile of Welsh Football across the world!

Nowhere have Bale or Ramsey said that they would play for a GB team permanently and nowhere has anyone said that they are looking to set up a GB team on a permanent basis! Its a one off for the Olympics, or maybe every 4 years, just like the Lions in Rugby Union that works very well!

I think it could help the Welsh team not hinder it.

I agree, I really dont understand what all the fuss is about.
If anyone understands it better than me, could they explain the fuss

it's not like anyone is going to wanna watch it anyway
with all the best players at the euro's

i cant recall ever watching an olympic football match myself?

I agree, I really dont understand what all the fuss is about.
If anyone understands it better than me, could they explain the fuss

lol ok one word BASKETBALL
In the UK there used to be a Welsh basketball team, a Scottish basketball team, an English basketball team and a Northern Irish basketball team all with there separate organisation and associations
previously Team GB did not enter a team to compete in basketball in the olympics only competing as individual countries in competitions such as the commonwealth games.
when the decision was made to compete in the olympics and unite the nations to enter as Team GB (as they are doing with the football) the decision was made very quickly to disband the individual associations and created the British Basketball Association therefore losing their individual identities
This is the fear of the FAW and the other football associations

thanks for that

So basically the FAW fear they will lose there identity? Or am I up the wrong tree?

What's the problem?!

Surely if Bale and Ramsey play for Team GB in the Olympics, it would raise the profile of Welsh Football across the world!

Nowhere have Bale or Ramsey said that they would play for a GB team permanently and nowhere has anyone said that they are looking to set up a GB team on a permanent basis! Its a one off for the Olympics, or maybe every 4 years, just like the Lions in Rugby Union that works very well!

I think it could help the Welsh team not hinder it.

Good post brilliantbluebirds09 - This is the Olympics were GB take part and not the home nations

The Lions is a good point,along with the Ryder Cup in Golf - Cricket are they all English born ?? - Tennis Davis Cup - Pool - Speedway GP - Even Horseracing has it's GB & IRE v The Rest of the world meeting..to name just a few.

thanks for that

So basically the FAW fear they will lose there identity? Or am I up the wrong tree?

spot on
but with basketball being an amateur sport in this country the impact wasnt as bad
but with a professional national team which requires an association to govern it to be allowed to compete
so if the FAW and other national associations were disbanded for a British Football Association
you would only be allowed to compete in the Euros and World Cups as a British team
the FAW wants to retain their association and still compete as a single nation in the Euros and World Cups representing Wales only
as what happened with basketball this is genuine fear but i would say with the muscle the English FA has and their want to compete as a single nation i cant see a British Association happening

For those not in favour of Team GB please can you show concrete evidence that FIFA will do away with the home nations If we enter the olympics?

Something else no one can answer, if FIFA are so desperate to do away with the home nations why haven't they done it before now? After all it would only take a vote! Why wait for team gb which is outside fifas jurisdiction anyway??

jimbo27 - You're right, FIFA could vote that England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have to play as GB at any time. This does raise it's head from time to time, Olympics or no Olympics. Last time that I can remember was when Mark Hughes was manager.

Nobody knows for sure what will happen. Personally I'm against it, for the above reason. The Olympics might give the countries in Africa and Asia who want to reduce our voting rights to one, their chance.

But GB will have an under 23 team at the Olympics. We just have to make sure that this is a one off. Unless, of course, people want a permanent GB team in the World Cup and European Championships. That is another debate.

My main concern about this is that the BOA is taking the lead, not the traditional footballing bodies. Their main concern is the Olympic Games, not football. We have our own competitions.

I dont trust Blatter but surely even he could not sanction removing Wales Northern Ireland and Scotland with all their history
whilst keeping the likes of Faro Isles Lichtentstein Andorra and all the tin pot ex commie countries

I dont trust Blatter but surely even he could not sanction removing Wales Northern Ireland and Scotland with all their history
whilst keeping the likes of Faro Isles Lichtentstein Andorra and all the tin pot ex commie countries

Exactly. more fycking countries than clubs these days they aint going to make em merge.

Typical small minded welsh fa.

Saying that maybe our only hope of ever going to a finals

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... squad.html

Point is though, that the countries you mention are independent nation states. Wales is not. Neither are Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and England, for that matter. ( Not sure about the Faroes, though, they might be part of Denmark ). We only have seperate sides in the UK because football started in England, and the first games were against Scotland and us. The FAW is the third oldest FA in the world. Agree, though, that our tradition and history should see us OK. Time will tell.