News from Welsh Labour

Blow full-time whistle on Team GB football plan and move on urges AM

Wrexham’s Labour Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths has called for “the full-time whistle to be blown” on plans for a Team GB football side playing in the London 2012 Olympics.

In the latest move to give impetus to a flagging idea for a Team GB, FIFA Chief Executive, Jerome Valcke, offered a limited assurance that participation in a one-off under-23 tournament could take place without jeopardising the status of any of the home nations.

However, Lesley Griffiths AM, believes this assurance does not apply to the full international team and, therefore, the future independence of Welsh football could not guaranteed. She now wants the constant speculation about Team GB to end and the proposal dropped entirely.

Commenting, she said:
“FIFA’s offer is patently not a guarantee of Welsh footballing independence in the future. It is something completely different.

“This so-called ‘offer’ relates solely to a one-off under-23 competition and it does not reflect the views of UEFA. The fact remains, there are considerable risks for the FAW, and the independence of Welsh football, by getting involved with the Team GB proposal, risks that are simply not worth taking.

“If those who are now relentlessly pursuing the Team GB idea, had took the trouble to sound out the respective football associations before going public, they would have quickly realised the levels of antipathy towards their plan.

“There is an old adage in politics – never ask a question you don’t know the answer to. Sadly, this was ignored by the proponents of Team GB and now they don’t like the responses they are getting.

“I believe it’s time the time has now come for the full-time whistle to blown on the Team GB proposal, so we can all move on.”

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