England women's football team barred from Olympics

The England women’s football team were disappointed at a decision to exclude them from playing in the next Olympics but were determined not to let it spoil their upcoming World Cup campaign, coach Hope Powell said today.

The world football governing body FIFA dealt a blow to the squad before their first finals appearance in 12 years by rejecting an appeal by the British Olympic Association to allow them to qualify as part of the team GB for next year’s Olympics Games.

England are one of five European nations taking part in the World Cup in China and the three who finish with the highest rankings in the tournament will qualify automatically for the Beijing Olympics.

However, FIFA has ruled that no matter how far the team progress in the tournament they will remain ineligible for the Games because England does not have its own separate National Olympic Committee.

The news was bad timing for the women’s side who open their World Cup campaign against Japan in Shanghai on Tuesday. They are also due to play defending champions Germany and Argentina in the group stage.

The BOA, which also has jurisdiction over Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, was hoping to enter a unified British side but the Scottish and Welsh football associations have said that they would not contribute any players.

The BOA instead hoped to be allowed to enter a team made up of English and Northern Irish players but FIFA rejected the proposal and have insisted the ban should remain.

It also means that England’s players will be denied Lottery funding available to other Olympic athletes which would allow them to train full-time.

The England coach Hope Powell said the players were ’very disappointed’ at the decision but were determined not to let it distract them from the upcoming tournament.

She said: “The players were led to believe they would have a chance to play in the Olympics and that is now not the case.

“The World Cup and the Olympics are the two best stages we could wish to compete on – there are no other tournaments where you get to play against the best in the world.

“We have a young squad and they would be peaking by the time Beijing comes around.

“It is a disappointment for everyone but the players have moved on and will put it to the back of their minds because the first game is on Tuesday. We are not letting it overshadow the tournament.”