England's Football Association confirmed on Tuesday that plans to enter British men's and women's football teams at next year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro have been abandoned.
The FA wanted to enter teams for the tournament, but had to scrap the proposals after encountering opposition from the football associations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
"After careful discussion, The FA has decided not to enter either a women's or a men's team into the Rio Olympics 2016," the FA said in a statement.
"We are disappointed not to be able to go ahead, given the fantastic opportunity it would have afforded the players and the broader exposure it would have brought to the game in our countries."
Great Britain fielded men's and women's teams at the London 2012 Olympics, where both sides were eliminated in the quarter-finals.
But Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are unwilling to repeat the experiment as they fear jeopardising their status as independent countries in the eyes of world governing body FIFA.
Trefor Lloyd Hughes, president of the Football Association of Wales, said that he had been "livid" when the FA informed him of its plans in a letter in January.
FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce had previously stated that he had been given "an absolute categorical reassurance" from FIFA that British teams would only be able to compete at the Olympics if all four home nations agreed.
Source: AFP
GMT 22:27 2018 Thursday ,13 December
Russian swimmer Prigoda takes gold in China with new WR in men’s 200m breaststrokeGMT 11:54 2018 Tuesday ,11 December
Ajax and Bayern in tasty Champions League duel for first placeGMT 07:42 2018 Thursday ,15 November
After IOC pressure, Spain lets Kosovo athletes compete under flagGMT 14:21 2018 Tuesday ,30 October
US Mayweather to fight Russia’s Nurmagomedov strictly under UFC rulesGMT 09:23 2018 Thursday ,11 October
UEFA abstains from broadcasting games in Israeli settlementsGMT 12:32 2018 Friday ,28 September
Germany ready to learn from Russia’s experience of hosting 2018 FIFA World CupGMT 11:24 2018 Wednesday ,26 September
Malaysian football latest newsGMT 14:48 2018 Sunday ,09 September
Spain Team Coached by Luis Enrique Looks StrongMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor