Crude Coe welcomed in Edinburgh despite recent outburst
Press Statement
29/10/2008
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)
Crude Coe welcomed in Edinburgh despite recent outburst
The No Team GB campaign welcome Lord Sebastian Coe to Edinburgh today despite
his alleged offensive comments directed towards the nations of Scotland and
Wales that were reported in "The London Paper" dated 1 October 2008.
In response to a question about the opposition towards a British Olympic joint
football team from the Welsh and Scottish FAs, Lord Coe allegedly replied " F***
them!"
This is a clear indication of the 2012 British Olympic Association
steamrollering ahead with a joint team despite there being no appetite from the
supporters of the four home nations. Supporters groups from each nation have
come together under the www.NoTeamGB.com umbrella to campaign against the idea
which seriously threatens the continued existence of the four home nations
competing on the international stage in their own right.
The FSF (England), ATAC (Scotland), FSF Cymru (Wales) and AONISC (Northern
Ireland) fans groups have been against this suggestion from the outset. This
opposition is supported by the fact that Sepp Blatter (FIFA), David Taylor
(UEFA) and various other football dignatories have previously stated that a team
playing under the GB flag will seriously undermine the right of the four home
countries to play on the international football scene in their own right.
No Team GB spokesman Simon Johnston said "Lord Coe is welcome in Edinburgh to
promote the 2012 Olympics with the tournaments sponsors. His remit is to make
sure that the tournament raises as much cash as is possible and to ensure its
success. This success should not be at the expense of the existence of our home
nations in world football. Lord Coe has to realise that to players,
participation in the Olympics compared to the World Cup is akin to Red Rum or
Desert Orchid taking part in a donkey derby rather than the Grand National"
Contact Simon Johnston (07967 102588) or Tam Ferry (07984 510033)
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