Regan rubbishes Team GB claim

20 June 2011 14:30

Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan has denied discussing the prospect of a GB football team with his British Olympic Association counterpart, Andy Hunt, who claimed he was "incredibly positive" of a fully inclusive squad.

The Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish Football Associations have all expressed opposition to such a team and Regan reiterated the SFA's stance. He insisted that there have been no discussions with Hunt and no indication of interest from any of the men's and women's squad players who have been consulted.

"Our position remains: we are opposed to taking part in Team GB," Regan told the SFA's official website.

"I was surprised by Andy Hunt's comments, especially since we have had no dialogue with him.

"We signed a letter to FIFA in 2009 which gave the FA the right to represent the Home Nations as Team GB. We need to protect our identity and we have no interest in taking part.

"We have consulted with the Association of Tartan Army Clubs and they are opposed to participation in Team GB and we have also spoken with the squads, who have shown no appetite for it, either."

Regan believes some dialogue with the SFA should have taken place before Hunt went public with his comments.

He said: "Communication is essential on these matters and, given that we have been in dialogue for some time, it would have been helpful if we'd all had the chance to speak on the matter before anything was made public."

Regan added: "I guess Andy is under a great deal of pressure from the London Olympic Games Organising Committee and the International Olympic Committee to get tickets on sale for the football events.

"As we know, there isn't a final position on Team GB as far as football is concerned. We haven't spoken to Andy. We've had dialogue with the Football Association but our position on the matter hasn't changed."

Source: PA