No harm, DTR, but that suggestion would be opening a separate can of worms and pouring them all over the already difficult issue of a single Irish team generally.
For there is a huge dispute already in the UK over participation in the Olympic football in 2012. After decades during which the four Home Associations have shown no interest in Olympic football (indeed were somewhat hostile), pressure from the Government, the London organisers and IOC, plus financial rewards, means it has been decreed there MUST be a "Team GB" [sic] in 2012.
The FA has been smoozed into organising it (they've got a huge debt for Wembley still to pay back), but the SFA, FAW and IFA are dead set against getting involved.
This is because they fear that if other countries see a combined UK team entering the Olympics, they will demand the same for the World Cup etc, thereby leading to the end of the four nations' separate identities.
Worse still, that weasel Sepp Blatter has changed his mind over this at least three times, with his latest pronouncement being that it will threaten our independence.
So as I said, there will be a "Team GB", but the SFA/IFA and FAW will undoubtedly prevent their players from taking any part, so it will be 11 Englishmen only.
There is also an active supporters' campaign against this team, with the full backing of Supporters' Organisations in all four countries, i.e. including England fans (FSF).
Of course, such a campaign has nothing like the resources and PR machine of the 2012 organisers, but in conjunction with the other 3 Associations, they have managed to embarrass Lord Coe et al:
www.noteamgb.com
See also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3to7MoGHBE
Bookmarks