ALL AT SEA OVER TEAM GB 15th JANUARY 2009.

ALL AT SEA OVER TEAM GB 15th JANUARY 2009.

LABOUR ‘ALL AT SEA’ OVER TEAM GB

WELSH FM SAYS HE CAN’T COMMENT WHILE HIS SCOTTISH COLLEAGUES CAN’T STOP

SNP Culture, Media and Sport Spokesperson, Pete Wishart MP has seized on comments made by Welsh First Minister, Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan AM, who said he was unable to comment on Team GB and this was a matter for FIFA and the Football Association of Wales.

In response, Mr Wishart said:

“Labour are all at sea over this issue. Rhodri Morgan is denying himself an opinion while Gordon Brown and Jim Murphy are going overboard in the opposite direction by campaigning for a Team GB at every opportunity.

“Last year, Gordon Brown said he wanted a Team GB for Christmas while Jim Murphy claimed he had reassurances from FIFA that a Team GB could take part in the 2012 Olympics without damaging the independence of football bodies in the home nations. Now Rhodri Morgan says he can’t even comment! Just what is the Labour position?

“FIFA’s statutes are quite clear – they do not allow national associations to be politically interfered with by Governments as the Peruvian example shows. But the Labour Government at Westminster is playing politics with the people’s game by trying to force through a UK Olympic football team with no regard for the views of the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland football authorities or the fans of all four home nations, who are united in their opposition to this daft and dangerous idea.”