The Olympics are no place for a football freak show

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Truly, this farce of football and the Olympics is going over the top. Like many, it doesn't bother me whether the sport features in the Games or not. But, if it must, it should not adopt the character of a circus in order to attract families, as we can only presume Stuart Pearce, the team's normally earnest manager, has been encouraged to do.

The argument for Giggs is that he has never been to a major tournament, which serves only to invoke the reaction of Cathy Ferguson, the Manchester United manager's wife, to Alastair Campbell's discreet question about whether her Alex would accept a knighthood: "Don't you think he's had enough?"

As for Beckham, there is no need to pretend: he is going to kiss the badge and cry at Wembley and people are going to pay to see it.

Such freak shows are all very well at testimonials but the Olympic football tournament deserves more respect, not least for its traditions as a launch pad for aspirant stars; Romario, for example, was the top scorer in an Olympics before leading Brazil to a World Cup.

Nor, if the game is to stay true to its colours, should it be deferring to the combination featured in the Union Jack. There is no such thing in football as Great Britain and it insults the game's origins to pretend otherwise, as the FA are doing at the behest of the Olympic organisers.

The tournament could have been a wonderful opportunity for young English players. The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish FAs would have happily agreed and Pearce could have tested starlets such as Josh McEachran in a serious environment. Instead we have yet another show. Roll up, roll up.