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FA's plans for fielding GB men, women's football teams at 2016 Rio Olympics scrapped

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ANI London
Last Updated : Mar 31 2015 | 2:57 PM IST

English Football Association's hopes of playing men's and women's teams at the Games came to an end as plans for Great Britain's male and female football teams to participate in the 2016 Rio Olympics have been scrapped.

The English FA failed to gain support from the other home nations for the same and they wrote to the Scottish, Welsh and Irish associations on Monday to inform them of the decision.

Great Britain fielded men's and women's teams at London 2012, with both sides knocked out at the quarterfinal stage, the BBC reported.

FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce had previously stated that he had been given an absolute categorical reassurance by the world football governing body that Great Britain teams would only be allowed if there was agreement from all the home nations.

Scotland's FA feared a united British team could risk its independence within FIFA and agreed to co-operate for London 2012 on the basis it was a one-off. It has said that the English FA underestimated the strength of feelings from the other home nations.

Meanwhile, Football Association of Wales president Trefor Lloyd Hughes said that he was livid with plans to reform Great Britain teams when he heard about them.

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First Published: Mar 31 2015 | 2:46 PM IST

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