04/26/24
December 17, 2002
FIFA wants England + Scotland + N. Ireland + Wales = Team UK?: FIFA is considering this "discussion document" today, amid mumblings about bringing FIFA membership more in line with the UN (yes, that UN) and making the organization more "internationally coherent." Aside from the "we ain't England" issues, if this discussion document becomes law, it will reduce the number of countries vying for UEFA spots in the World Cup. Could this lead to fewer UEFA spots and open up spots for other (poorer) regions? What do you think about Team UK? Have links to more details?
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 05:02 PM - 7 comments
There was talk of a British football team to be entered into the olympics, but that has never transpired. I always thought that any national football league would have an entry as an International side - for example, Monaco, whose club team(s) play in the French leagues, do not have an International side. i.e. The reason why we have England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is that they all have their own separate national leagues ?
posted by BigCalm at 03:40 AM on December 18, 2002
This better NOT happen! Whats next?! Continental representation?!? North America VS Europe!? DUMB IDEA! Should be dropped immediately!
posted by StarFucker at 08:00 AM on December 18, 2002
The reason why Britain doesn't enter an olympic football team is because other nations would immediately say if it's good enough for the olympics it should be good enough for any other competition. I wonder if they will insist that Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia should have one team.
posted by Fat Buddha at 08:39 AM on December 18, 2002
Well...looks like someone has some scruples after all! Blatter rules out idea of United Kingdom team http://sports.yahoo.com/m/world/news/reuters/20021218/reu-fifabritain20021218.html
posted by StarFucker at 08:41 AM on December 18, 2002
Yay! End of story.
posted by worldcup2002 at 11:38 AM on December 18, 2002
North America vs Europe would be interesting, if a touch one sided (no offence to American soccer players). But losing the ability to cheer for ENGLAND would suck BIG TIME. Yeah, I know it's been posted that the idea is dead, but still, HORRIBLE idea.
posted by Drood at 07:33 PM on December 18, 2002
It'd be interesting to see how the all-UK team would compete in the major tourneys, but I've got to say that I'm whole-heartedly against this idea. It just goes against the spirit of the world cup. This is the major time for most countries to have an amazing sense of national pride, and for the Scots and Irish to have to share that with the English would, I'm sure, piss them off right well. There'd be all kinds of bickering and name-calling. And who else would you allow to join together? The five Central American countries? Smaller African nations? No sir, I don't like this one bit.