No Medals For This TeamGB
Press Statement
19/08/2008
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
JOINT STATEMENT FROM:
The Association of Tartan Army clubs (ATAC - Scotland)
Football Supporters Federation (FSF - England)
Football Supporters Federation Cymru (FSF - Wales) and
Amalgamation of Official NI Fans Clubs (AONISC - Northern Ireland)
No Medals For This TeamGB
Scotland and Northern Ireland fans joined in their praise of the Olympians in
Beijing ahead of their friendly match at Hampden, but quickly condemned the
repeated attempts by Lords Moynihan & Coe to gain support for a TeamGB football
team to participate in the London 2012 Olympics.
At a fans get together ahead of the Hampden clash, they united in voicing their
concerns.
Tam Ferry of the Association of Tartan Army Clubs (ATAC) said � The official
fans groups of Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales are firmly against
the false creation of a British football team, it threatens the independent
position of our national game � we wish the Olympians well, but this is one
medal we can do without�.
ATAC�s position is supported by Gordon Smith, Chief Executive of the Scottish
Football Association who has previously advised the British Olympic Committee
that Scotland have no interest in supporting this team.
Thousands of Northern Ireland fans are arriving in Glasgow for the match with
Scotland. Gary McAllister of the Amalgamation of Official NI Supporters Clubs
said, �The vast majority of Northern Ireland fans are totally opposed to a 'Team
GB' football team competing in the 2012 games.
We are deeply concerned that the four British Associations� right to compete
separately in international competition could be undermined by the participation
of a unified UK team in the Olympic tournament and we feel that, without proper
guarantees, this is a risk which cannot be taken,
We look forward to continuing to highlight our concerns alongside our friends
from Scotland, England and Wales. The stakes are simply too high to allow this
issue to go unchallenged."�
FIFA supremo Sepp Blatter stated in March this year that entering a TeamGB
football team will "....put into question all the privileges that the British
associations have".
ENDS
Press Contacts � Tam Ferry (ATAC NoTeamGB.com Spokesman) 07984 510 033
Or Gary McAllister (AONISC) 07760 233 011
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