By Andrew Warshaw in Manchester
March 30 – American goalkeeper Brad Friedel today entered the debate over a unified British football team for next year’s London Olympics by saying it would be a “travesty” if players were denied the chance to compete.
Debate over Team GB has raged ever since the Olympics were awarded to London, with three of the four Home Associations steadfastly refusing to release players for fear of losing their national identitities within FIFA.
But Friedel, the Aston Villa keeper who has played in England since 1997 and has twice competed in the Olympics, said he could not understand the anti-Team GB lobby.
“As an American growing up, the Olympics is the pinnacle of all sports,” said Friedel, who took part in the 1992 and 2000 Games.
“It was very different feeling from the three World Cups I have been fortunate to play in.
“For a player to miss out on the experience of playing in an Olympics would be terrible.
“It’s not just the actual games you play in, it’s the entire learning experience.
“You get to be around the other sportsmen and women.
“It’s difficult to put into words how important the Olympics are as a growing experience.
“To miss out on it would be a travesty.”
Speaking at the Soccerex conference here, Freidel urged any players selected for London 2012 to defy pressure from their domestic federations not to take part.
Asked what he would advise them to do, he replied: “I would advise them to play.
“I’d like to think sport will prevail over politics.
“I think if they are left out, in the future, because of that decision, they would regret it.
“I would hope a lot of pressure would be put on those FAs not to keep them out.
“It is an experience they should not miss.
“When is the Olympics going to be here again?
“It is a world event.
“People have to take that into consideration and stop thinking about themselves.”
For Friedel, now 39, there should even be a debate.
“I thought the issue would be resolved straight after the Games were awarded to London,” he said.
“Instead we have to let the powers that be decide.”
Although the Olympic football event is primarily an under-23 competition, Friedel said it still had enormous credibility.
“The Olympics are special,” he said.
“You might not have the same talent as at the World Cup, but for me an Olympic gold medal is right up there with a World Cup winners medal.”
Friedel was backed up by Welshman Iwan Thomas, who won a silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
“I can understand the concern of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that if they play for Team GB they can’t go back but for me, as an athlete, the Olympics was the biggest thing on the planet,” said Thomas.
“When I put on that jersey I gave my heart and soul.