Team GB football debate highlights the need for a Welsh Olympic Team

Jill Evans MEP, President of Plaid Cymru, has spoken out against the creation of a GB football team for next year's Olympics. Ms Evans is backing the Football Association of Wales and is worried that the proposed plans could threaten the independence of Welsh National football.

Ms Evans said that Wales's footballing independence should not be taken for granted, when nations such as Catalonia are not so fortunate.

Ms Evans said,

"I totally support the FAW's position on this issue. It's vital that Wales maintain its footballing independence. The Olympic Games does not represent the pinnacle of footballing prowess as it's only an Under 23 tournament. The future of Wales's national team is much more important.

The rewards for entering the tournament as Team GB are minimal to Wales, yet the risks involved are great. That is why the Welsh, English, Scottish and Northern Irish Fans Associations are all united in objecting the proposals to create a GB Team.

I can't understand why the British Olympic Association argue that we in Wales should trust FIFA on this issue, yet the English FA recently accused FIFA of being corrupt!"

Following a meeting with the FC Barcelona Foundation in the Catalan city on Wednesday, Ms Evans said,

"The Catalans would love to have a national team - a team that would arguably be the best in the world at the moment. Wales is seen as an equal to every other footballing nation in the world and that status must be preserved."

Ms. Evans offered a solution to the current situation,

"The British Olympic Association has treated the FAW with total contempt by declaring that an 'historical deal' had been made when this clearly wasn't the case. Plaid Cymru has long called for Wales to have its own team in the Olympic Games. This is yet another reason for us to do that in future".

Ends.