FANS GROUPS ISSUE "HANDS OFF" WARNING TO BOA CHIEF CLEGG
Press Statement
30th October 2007
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)
FANS GROUPS ISSUE "HANDS OFF" WARNING TO BOA CHIEF CLEGG
Fans groups representing all of the home nations' teams today released a joint
statement, blasting BOA Chief Exec Simon Clegg.
Spokesman Tam Ferry said:
"The Official Supporters Groups of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland
today issued a 'HANDS OFF' warning to Simon Clegg and his unhealthy obsession
for a TEAM GB football team for the 2012 Olympics. Clegg has no appreciation of
the fragile nature and unique status of the 4 home nation Football Associations
within world football. There have been several attempts over the last 30 years
to force the 4 Associations to amalgamate. Any recognition of a GB football team
will lead to more pressure from the International Football community to merge
under one team, with one FA and with single membership of FIFA and UEFA. "
He continued:
"The NoTeamGB.com campaign are delighted to welcome the IFA, in their decision
to withdraw support for a Team GB, joining the SFA and the FAW in distancing
themselves from any Olympic Football. The FA need to listen to their own fans,
the England Fans, and stand up to this political bullying and withdraw their
support for the Team immediately.
What Mr Clegg as a non-football man fails to realise is that the London Olympics
take place less than 4 weeks after the 2012 European Football Championships in
Poland and Ukraine, and during the domestic football season.
Mr Clegg needs to accept that there is no Team GB as far as football goes, and
that fact wont change no matter how many times he says 'GB football team'.
We wish all the participating athletes every success at the London Olympics, but
as football fans, we simply wish the BOA would stop using our beautiful game as
a political football. Football fans aren't interested in the Olympics; its the
European Championships and the worlds greatest sporting event, the World Cup
that matters. "
ENDS
Contact
Tam Ferry (Spokesman) - 07984 510033
Simon Johnston - 07967 102 588
 Press
Statement PDF |
