http://www.football365.com/f365-says/7000413/F365-Focus
Surely Bale Will Follow Olympic Dream
The other FAs might be kicking up a fuss but if non-English players like Gareth Bale are selected for the GB Olympics team and want to play then there's sod all they can do to stop them...
International football began in 1872 when England first played Scotland; I forget the score. But the centrality of the contests between Anglos and Celts of various persuasions to the game's past is renowned and FIFA have stressed time and again that the future separate status of the four Home Nations will not be put in doubt by the one-off fielding of Great Britain teams at the 2012 Olympics. So why all the fuss when the British Olympic Association set in train the process that will lead to the selection of men's and women's squads?
"All four associations have received a written assurance from FIFA that participation in the 2012 Olympic football tournament will in no way compromise their autonomy and independence for other FIFA-sanctioned tournaments, or impact on their positions of leadership within the FIFA governance structure," the BOA said. The last is a reference chiefly to the International Football Association Board, which writes the laws of the game and whose nine members include representatives of each of the Home Nations.
However the Scottish say no, the Welsh say no and, not for the first time, Ulster says no, the three FAs competing to object in the strongest terms to the "historic agreement" the BOA announced, then collectively condemning the claim that "the [English] FA has consulted with its partner associations in developing the player-selection criteria and timeline".
The combined statement said: "The Football Associations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland reiterate our collective opposition to Team GB participation at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, contrary to the media release issued by the BOA. We have been consistently clear in explaining the reason for our stance, principally to protect the identity of each national association. With that in mind, we cannot support nor formally endorse the approach that has been proposed by the Football Association."
Yet to a degree all this is bluster: while the three FAs can try to influence individuals, the decisions over participation in the 18-strong squads will be down to the players themselves. Now with the players to be under-23s, with three exceptions, the desirability of teaming up with England's youth may seem of limited appeal to anyone who watched the Under-21s in Denmark (especially the 0-0 draw with Ukraine, perhaps modelled on that first Scotland v England game - OK, I looked it up). Yet as Gareth Bale, who if fit would surely be the first name selected, said in March: "I want to play in the Olympics. I think it would be a great experience."
The Celts come from a position of weakness. Wales lost narrowly to Russia in a play-off for Euro 2004; Scotland, after a home win, were thumped by Holland at the same stage. Northern Ireland, qualifiers at successive World Cups in the 80s, have had barely a sniff of qualification since the mid-90s. Bale said: "At the moment Wales haven't qualified for a major tournament in I don't know how many years so it would be nice to play in one against the best countries in the world."
In times past the FAs might have tried to impose sanctions on players who took Bale's line but these days they would be in court before you could say "restraint of trade". Stewart Regan, the chief executive of the Scottish Football Association, said through gritted teeth: "Legally we cannot stop players being selected."
Players will be asked, without fear of sanction, not to play by their FAs and some may be fearful of the reactions of supporters. But less than a month after the Games, full national sides will be playing World Cup qualifiers and traditional allegiances will surely kick in quickly; no teams, least of all the impoverished Celtic trio, can afford to turn against the best of their young players (and only the best would stand a chance of selection).
Perhaps underlying the official opposition is an easy truth: that a player who turns out for Team GB can atone for any sense of brief betrayal in national colours, but no administrator can so easily win back hearts. And by making so much noise no one at FIFA will get the idea that positions are in any regard weakening.
Whether anyone from the SFA, the FAW or the IFA will come and watch, and whether 'home' fans at the Millennium Stadium and Hampden, both 2012 venues, will cheer the opposition remains to be seen and heard. But talented individuals if approached will surely follow Bale's apparent lead. The Celts' best hope of deterring their male players from agreeing to participate may be discreetly championing the selection of Stuart Pearce as coach, but the chance - however slim - of Olympic glory would surely be too much to turn down.
--------------------------------------------------------
Some comments below:
The anti-english sentiment from some of the home nations supporters is incredibly boring. Being half scottish myself i often find filled with self-loathing while cheering on england, it would be nice to see a national side i can truly support - Scotch
I have a fair few celt's as mates. I think my rugby loving welsh mate, hates the English rugby team more than anything, but come a British & Irish Lions tour, he's fully behind them. Why then for an olympics can't they put aside their hatred. If the Irish can in Rugby, surely the Scots and Welsh can do it for a couple of weeks at an olympics. Let's be honest this isn't golf, so NI participants aren't likely play, but as long as there's a split of players, i think it could be great fun. As i see it there are allowed to be 3 overage players. these should be split. You could have Rooney, Charlie Adam and Ryan Giggs. Maybe Martin O'Neill could manage it as the NI contingent. You could then have a real competition for places as it's under 23. Surely a midfield containing Charlie Adam, Jack Wilshire, Gareth Bale or Ryan Giggs would have a great chance of keeping the ball on the ground and actually playing some entertaining stuff in a tournament. Something all 4 home nations have missed of late. Who knows if everyone embraces it, it may even raise a smile North of the border! 
In short, nothing really to do with the fans or players. This is about old men in the Celtic FA's worrying about their jobs.
Home
but what's the deal with them Scots, Welsh, N. Irish to play in one Great Britain team in football?
