Brown backs revival of Home Internationals

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Thursday he would support a one-off revival of the Home International championship after none of the British teams qualified for the Euro 2008 finals.

"It's desperately disappointing that there will be no British teams at the European championship. In some cases that's down to bad luck. In some it's bad results," the Scot told reporters before flying to Uganda for a Commonwealth summit.

"I know every football fan in Britain was looking forward to a summer of football next year, so it's very disappointing," continued the Prime Minister.

"I know some people have called for a one-off revival next year of the Home Internationals. That's something for the football associations and clubs to consider.

"I would certainly enjoy that. I've got great memories from the 1960s and 70s. But that's a decision for the football associations and the clubs."

The home championship between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland was scrapped in 1984 due to increasing fixture congestion.

England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland after losing 3-2 to Croatia at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday while Scotland's hopes ended on Saturday when they lost 2-1 to Italy.

Wales finished fifth in Group D while Northern Ireland were third in Group F, behind Spain and Sweden.

(Reporting by Adrian Croft, writing by Alan Baldwin, editing by Alison Wildey)