Beckham's 2012 Olympic dream under threat

David Beckham has reiterated his desire to be part of Team GB's football squad at the 2012 Olympics. But after yesterday's shambles he might want to think again. With hundreds of thousands of the 2.5 million tickets for the men's and women's football tournaments still unsold, the British Olympic Association released a statement trumpeting a ‘historic agreement' and insisting a team of English, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish players would be competing. BOA chief executive Andy Hunt said: "Seeing Team GB take to the pitch in 2012 will be one of the defining moments of the London Games. It would be unthinkable to host the Olympics in Britain, home of the world's most knowledgeable and passionate football fans, and not have Team GB represented in men's and women's football." The problem was the associations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland said they knew nothing about it. They issued a joint statement declaring their "collective opposition to Team GB participation at the 2012 Olympic Games, contrary to the media release issued by the BOA". They added: "No discussions took place with any of us, far less historic agreement reached." What could be Beckham's grand farewell has turned into a farce. The argument puts the FA in an unenviable position — caught between the BOA and the other home nations. From gulfnews.