England manager Sam Allardyce told BBC Sport he would encourage Team GB football teams competing at future Olympics.

GB were notable absentees at Rio 2016, after the four national football associations failed to agree on sending a women’s team to the Games.

The Lionesses’ bronze medal success at the 2015 World Cup had confirmed a place – but it was not taken up.

“To turn it down is a great shame,” said Allardyce. “It’s something we may look at in the future and try to compete in.

“When you see the delight on Justin Rose’s face after winning the gold medal in golf it shows what it all means.”

An article explains: “England’s FA had put forward the idea of sending Great Britain teams to the Olympics, but Fifa said it would need the agreement of the ruling bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, who were against it.

“The other home nations fear such a move could affect their independent status within the sport’s world governing body, Fifa, and at international tournaments such as the World Cup.

“A total of 154,998 people turned out to watch the four Team GB women’s matches four years ago.”

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