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Bale: Could face ban
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Tottenham star Gareth Bale will not be given permission to participate in the 2012 London Olympics, according to The Football Association of Wales.
It is expected that a united British team will participate in the Games in less than two years' time and it has been suggested that Sir Alex Ferguson could be asked to be manager.
Bale would likely be near the top of any team-sheet after a dazzling 12 months for Spurs, while he would have only just turned 23 years of age by the time of the Olympics.
But the FAW has no intention of giving the wide-man permission to take part in what would be a once-in-lifetime opportunity.
A spokesperson said in The Sun: "We have taken a decision to have nothing to do with a GB United side.
"If any of our players said they wanted to play in the Olympics - we'd not give them permission."
But British Olympic Association chairman Lord Moynihan warned: "We'd open ourselves up to legal challenges if the pool of players was England only."
Comments (25)
Dru Hardy (Manchester United fan) says...
We'll see how things are by then, i have a feeling Bale will be bigger than the Welsh F.A in 2012, then he can tell them to stick it. whats the point? do the welsh hate the english that much???!!!???
Posted 11:55 23rd December 2010
Kris Henderson (Rangers fan) says...
Richard Farrell - SCOTLAND would not like to watch a GB team , scotland don't and never will want to watch a GB team . wales are of the same opinion - no one wants GB team. Scotland , Ireland ( northern & southern ) are all proud of there football teams, maybe you see it as the only way England will ever win anything again !!
Posted 11:47 23rd December 2010
Jon Jenkins (Manchester United fan) says...
As a football fan, and a proud Welshman, it's no surprise to me to see another stupid descision by the FAW. Wales need to be moving forward if we want to qualify for a major tournament, and this is unfair to Bale and everyone who wants to see him do well. Personally I can only see it helping us to have as many Welsh players as possible in the squad. Bad move FAW, wake up!
Posted 10:45 23rd December 2010
Rhys Jaggar (Arsenal fan) says...
Chris Owen I suspect Aaron Ramsey would be in the team too, if he's as good after his injury as he was before it. 2011 will tell us about that, I guess. But if he has a healthy 18 months, he'd be a shoo-in. I must say my estimation of my mother's place of birth went down a notch hearing this: it's SO pathetic. I won't bother watching an England-Scotland match again if these zombie suits go on with this crass rubbish. Ditto England-Wales...........
Posted 17:04 22nd December 2010
Simon Mathias (West Ham United fan) says...
As a proud welshman I even find this a stupid move by the Welsh FA, this is our 1 big chance of doing very well in a big competition (maybe even win) ! I could understand if it was England asking the rest of the GB countries to join them as an English side but at the end of the day its a GB side! I can even see Bale playing in the risk of him being banned from playing from his country ever again! Hate to say it but he wont be playing at that level for a long time ( if ever) Sort it out Welsh FA
Posted 14:50 22nd December 2010
Chris Whiting (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
Having studied in North Wales for a number of years I can hardly say I am surprised by this statement, but it doesn't make all the less disappointed. There is a very apparent chip on the shoulder of many in Wales regarding the English and I have felt more worried and ostracised for being English there than I ever have in Scotland or Ireland. I sincerely hope that someone brings a case against the FAW instead or against our Olympic committee - I can see Scotland and Ireland following suit at this rate and it would not only be a huge shame for GB team but it would also look hugely embarrassing to the rest of the world that we cannot even get along with our own island of nations.
Posted 14:34 22nd December 2010
Matt Baldwin (Cardiff City fan) says...
Wow. this really sums up the problems that are in the WFA. Being welsh, i would love to see Welsh players in the British Olympic team. First the appointment of Gary Speed as coach, when there is clearly more established names that could have taken the role. And now this. I think the WFA needs a wake up call and let the players decide for themselves.
Posted 14:25 22nd December 2010
James Kenny (Manchester United fan) says...
If Fergie is in charge then he will not be told to do by anyone, and a player should be proud to play for his country, and Bale is British so I imagine that he will want to part of it as it will be his only chance to win a trophy at this level. I was hoping that this could be the start of something great with the UK finaly combining as one team and help break some of the divides in football, but if it is going to get petty maybey we should send Cardiff and Swansea to go and play in the Welsh league for Welsh teams!
Posted 14:10 22nd December 2010
R Mandan (Wrexham fan) says...
The FAW have not singled out Bale in particular, they alongside the Scottish FA and Irish FA decided to distance themselves from the GB∋ football team proposed for the Olympics a long time ago. They've done this in order to preserve their places as seperate teams and the majority of fans of those three countries are probably supportive of this. I'm surprised that more England fans aren't against the idea of a GB∋ team for the same reason. Afterall England is the oldest association in the world with massive support. FIFA and UEFA aren't the greatest fans of the UK teams as it is so why give them an excuse to force a GB∋ team? Also the FA are in charge of the GB∋ team so what if it wins Gold and makes lots of money? Will they happily let the team and financial benefits go? Qualfying for the Olympics is through the under 21 national teams so will they want to withdraw their England team and replace it with the GB∋ team?! I don't think many British football fans care much for Olympic football and I personally hope the Welsh, Scottish and Irish FAs continue their boycott rather than give into the pressure from the likes of Seb Coe etc.
Posted 14:00 22nd December 2010
Joe Lucey (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
What a bunch of idiots. To be honest, given the state of English football, I think it is time to forget the meaningless divisions between England/Wales/Scotland and consider a GB national team. Not just because of Bale, but over the years it is a disgrace that the likes of Giggs, Hughes, Keane, etc only get a bit part in major competitions. And these days it is looking more and more like the English side are heading that way too.
Posted 13:52 22nd December 2010
Jack M (Cardiff City fan) says...
An innocent and very talented lad being PUNISHED for no other reason than the fact that he landed in a marginally different part of the island when he was born. A bitter and embarrassingly childish decision.
Posted 13:33 22nd December 2010
Chris Whiteman (Manchester United fan) says...
Absolutely pathetic. "We've taken a decision to have nothing to with a GB United side", on what grounds exactly? You have the personnel to represent your country, some of which would love to play in the Olympics! There's clearly a hidden agenda here, they just don't want to team up with the English for age old reasons. Very sad. Also, how can they possibly stop anyone playing if they wish to? If it was me I'd tell them to jog on and would meet up with the squad anyway, particularly if they end up being managed by Fergie! "If any of our players said they wanted to play in the Olympics - we'd not give them permission." Hahahahahahaha, clowns
Posted 13:26 22nd December 2010
D J (Wrexham fan) says...
Wow, I'm always shocked at the total lack of understanding from English people for anything relating to the UK other than from and English perspective. Britain is England and England is Britain, eh! The Welsh (and Scottish and Northern Irish) FA's are trying to maintain their independence. They feel that fielding a British team would undermine their autonomy and therefore letting Bale, Giggs, Bellamy or anybody else under their jurisdiction participate in a GB team would undermine this stance. They are not saying they do not want a Welshman to play alongside an Englishman because he is English. Whether or not this stance is correct or justified is of course a different question. Still, keep up the ill informed, apathetic approach to all things Celtic. Well done! PS I¿m British and Welsh and proud to be both ¿ and would love to see a UK team play.
Posted 12:45 22nd December 2010
C Clumpet (Cardiff City fan) says...
Ohh how bitter the English are just because he's Welsh and you have no quality left midfielders. Wales are not apart of the olympic football team, grow up and get over it. It's not as if your even going to make the semi's anyway.
Posted 11:50 22nd December 2010
Jordan Kelly (Chelsea fan) says...
Let's be serious here it will be basically an English team and once again fail. The only other players that would get into the squad that arent english would be Gareth Bale and maybe Darren Fletcher.
Posted 11:38 22nd December 2010
Colin Slater (Newcastle United fan) says...
this is a one off and doesnt effect a players national status under fifa rules, therefore it is irrelevent what any individual FA thinks. he is under contract with spurs not the welsh fa and surely it would be up to tottenham if he was allowed to play or not. i'm sure Speed woudl'nt stand in the way of any of his players and will the FA have the same stance if bale or another player threatens to retire from the national side for the chance to win a gold medal at the olympics? i doubt it, talk about cutting your nose to spite your face
Posted 11:33 22nd December 2010
Dan Turner (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
I do think it is up to Bale himself if he plays! And i think there is no better left sided player in the world at the present time. The FAW should have no say and I think a GB Team would be great for the UK as there are clearly some better Welsh,Irish and Scotish players who are very proud and try there best for country. Some English players don`t seem that bothered and are overated!.
Posted 11:24 22nd December 2010
Mike Stanton (Manchester City fan) says...
I do not understand the phrase "We'd open ourselves up to legal challenges if the pool of players was England only." Why? Does that mean our hockey team or relay team would be in trouble if they just happened to be all English or should a team member get into a side merely because of where they are from rather than there on merit. I am not saying that if all British FA was supporting a GB team that all the best players will be English, but what if they was, or at least the manager in question thought they was? Let¿s be honest, if all the FA's supported a GB team the majority of players for the GB team would be English, with one of main reason being the population of England compare to the rest of Britain. The FA's know this, do not want to lose face and the main reason is they do not want to relinquish any of their footballing power!
Posted 11:12 22nd December 2010
Peter Potter (Manchester United fan) says...
I think you would probably find that Wales, Scotland and Ireland would much prefer their independence than care about this subject !
Posted 10:44 22nd December 2010
Robert Leonard (Manchester United fan) says...
Just who do the FAW think they are? this should be a decision solely for Gareth Bale and his club. Leave aside the petty small mindedness involved this shower of wannabes should crawl back into their dark hole.
Posted 10:14 22nd December 2010