Press Statement
www.NoTeamGB.com
www.twitter.com/NoTeamGB
22/06/2011
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
Lies, Damned Lies and the BOA
The British Olympic Association has today made a truly landmark announcement.
This marks a groundbreaking shift in the discussions to create a hybrid-GB
football team for the 2012 Olympics.
Andy Hunt and the BOA have moved from a position of consultation - albeit a very
one-sided one - and persuasion to one of arrogance and contempt for the National
Associations and their fans. With The FA playing the part of the henchman, the
BOA has clearly adopted the Sepp Blatter approach by simply removing the
opposition from the equation and sidelines �transparency� by blatantly lying
about how this has happened.
The BOA has released a statement which was refuted, within a matter of minutes
by three of the supposed parties to the agreement. Andy Hunt�s press release
purports to claim that the BOA has achieved a �historic agreement� to enable
this team to take place. In reality, the only agreement which has taken place is
between the BOA and The FA and was in fact in place some time ago after the
other FA�s coalesced, allowing the FA to go it alone.
Whilst being economical with the truth is what we�ve now come to expect from the
BOA, Andy Hunt�s press release goes into the realms of fantasy where it now
claims that the FA �represents the interests of the Football Associations from
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland�. NoTeamGB insist that the FA
explain how they have received this mandate as it is unequivocally clear from
the subsequent joint statement from the SFA, FAW and IFA, that they are not in
agreement to any of the points within the BOA statement.
Paul Corkery, spokesman for NoTeamGB said �The BOA and FA are guilty of stalking
the other home nations into submission. They have effectively declared that
Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh players now fall under their remit for the
next 18 months.�
The BOA statement says that all four FA�s have received written assurances of
their future from the Secretary General of FIFA. Yet again, NoTeamGB finds it
astonishing that the BOA and FA could even contemplate accepting this for the
reasons outlined in our statement of 2 June 2011.
NoTeamGB spokesman Tam Ferry said �The FA have led the charge against FIFA
corruption, however today�s statement makes them absolutely complicit with the
lies, deceit and propaganda of the BOA�s desperate attempt at raising interest
in a novelty tournament. Their crusade against corruption [in the recent world
cup voting saga] showed a desire to put the wider interests of the game first,
it�s therefore disappointing that it is now self-interest that comes to the
fore. It�s clear to us that The FA is equally as trustworthy as FIFA and,
therefore, we should place an equal amount of faith in them to protect our
independent status on the world football scene. None!�
Contact: Tam Ferry � Association of Tartan Army Clubs (07984 510033) or Paul
Corkrey � FSF Cymru (07903 619654)
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