10 Oct 2012

Britain rules out mens football team at Rio 2016

8:12 am on 10 October 2012

Britain won't be entering a mens football team for the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Britain took part in this year's Olympic tournament for the first time since the Rome Games in 1960.

But the issue was politically sensitive as the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland FAs feel their involvement threatened their individual status within FIFA.

Welsh players were included in Stuart Pearce's squad in London, but there were no Scottish or Irish players.

It's possible a British womens team might be entered for the Rio qualifiers.