England proposals for men ’ s Team GB football at the Rio Olympics have already been kicked into the long grass by the other home nations — and the women ’ s hopes are going in the same direction . There were strong hopes that a women ’ s team could still represent GB in Brazil in 2016 when the strength of the opposition for Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland soon made it obvious that the men ’ s initiative was a non-starter . Team GB are unlikely to reform for 2016 Olympics after coming together for London 2012 . But the Celtic countries , having been promised that the two football sides at London 2012 were a one-off , have informed the FA that they see no reason to treat women ’ s football any differently because it still threatens their independence — however many times they ’ re reassured by FIFA that it won ’ t . The FA will announce imminently that both Team GB football sides have been scrapped . Such are football ’ s sensitive politics that after FIFA president Sepp Blatter had praised UEFA ’ s work in his opening speech at the UEFA Congress in Vienna , the president of the European body , Michel Platini , left out his one dig at Blatter contained in advance copies of his speech . Michel Platini ( right ) seemed to bite his lip during his speech about Sepp Blatter 's FIFA at the UEFA Congress . Platini , in an obvious nod to Blatter ’ s regular references to steering the world football ship , was due to say : ‘ I regard myself as a simple team-mate , at most your captain . But not the captain of a ship that is being battered by a storm , clinging to the helm for dear life. ’ But he skipped the bit about ‘ clinging to the helm for dear life ’ . Nothing sums up Blatter ’ s presidential election trickery more than the decision to have a special meeting in Zurich to decide future numbers of World Cup places — the day after the Congress vote in May . This will allow Blatter at least to make promises about more World Cup places to the confederations who support him . FIFA say the issue has to be debated afterwards as candidate Luis Figo ( right ) has increasing World Cup participation as part of his manifesto . England return to Dublin for a friendly against Ireland after riots saw the last game abandoned in 1995 . There is confidence England ’ s powderkeg friendly against the Republic of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on June 7 — the first time England have played in Dublin since a riot forced the abandonment in 1995 — will pass without trouble . All the focus in Ireland is on the crucial Euro 2016 qualifier with Scotland on June 13 . No whitewash for Gill . There was no surprise about David Gill being elected British vice-president on the FIFA ExCo at the UEFA Congress on Tuesay . But FA of Wales ’ outspoken president Trefor Lloyd-Hughes , who has made increasingly outlandish claims about FA skulduggery , received 10 votes out of 54 which is nine more than many expected . Meanwhile , Gill said that rather than ask ‘ awkward ’ questions of the Zurich regime which FA chairman Greg Dyke wants him to do , he will be putting ‘ relevant and appropriate ’ ones . Luis Figo ( left ) and the more impressive Michael van Praag are unlikely to oust Blatter as FIFA president . The worry for all three UEFA-endorsed rivals for Blatter ’ s crown — Prince Ali of Jordan , Holland ’ s Michael Van Praag and Portugal ’ s Luis Figo — is that the FIFA president still enjoys backing in Europe . Estonia football president Aivar Pohlak claims as many as half of UEFA delegates could back Blatter . That seems unlikely but at least 15 out of 54 countries could . Meanwhile , Van Praag was easily the most impressive of the three challengers when they were given the Congress floor . FA chairman Greg Dyke ’ s demand for radical changes in top-flight clubs ’ 25-man squads to ensure young English players get more game time has irritated the Premier League . Dyke said : ‘ We ’ re open to discussions and I ’ d like to persuade some of the clubs this is an issue. ’ FA chief Greg Dyke has angered Premier League clubs with his plans for more home-grown players . There could now be tension between Dyke and the PL at the clubs ’ summit on Thursday , particularly given Dyke was last week advised not to go public by the Professional Game representatives on the FA Board . But the extent to which Wembley were determined to get maximum publicity for Dyke ’ s proposals was shown by them bringing in expensive PR firm Milltown Partners to lobby media to attend the press briefing . It was also held at the start of international week so the PL could have no complaints about it deflecting attention from their competition .
Opposition from home nations is set to scrap plans for Women 's national GB football team at the 2016 Olympic Games . Michel Platini held back comments about Sepp Blatter at the Congress . England face ##book in June hoping there will be no repeat of the 1995 boycott . Greg Dyke has angered supporters with his proposal to reform youth squads .