§ Mr. PendryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the exclusion of Argentina from the Rous cup in May 1988; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoynihanI have received no representations about the exclusion of Argentina from the Rous cup next year. The Football Association consulted me in October about the possibility of inviting Argentina and I made it clear in my reply that there were no foreign policy or security reasons to deter an invitation and that the decision therefore was one for the Football Association to make. I also suggested that in making a decision the association would wish to have in mind the possibility of adverse public reaction and perhaps hooliganism which conceivably could occur if the invitation were to be accepted.