Welshman Gareth Bale withdrew from the London Olympic Games with a back injury, but played in a friendly for his club, Tottenham Hotspur, before Britain's first match against Senegal on Thursday.

Sepp Blatter, FIFA president, suggested earlier this week that soccer's governing body could ban the 23-year-old winger if the British Olympic team lodged a complaint.

"I understand the response from some football fans who were hoping to see him play as part of Team GB (the British Olympic team)," Colin Moynihan, chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA), said at a news conference in Olympic Park Thursday.

"My view is different. I welcome the fact that he has returned from injury earlier than expected. I don't agree with Sepp Blatter's comments about banning him. I think Sepp Blatter needs to get closer to Team GB," he added.

BOA said the situation with Bale was different to that of triple jumper Phillips Idowu.

Idowu pulled out of a training camp through injury and BOA has demanded to see his medical records to see if he is fit to compete.

"I think there's a very simple difference. Phillips was selected for the team, Gareth wasn't," Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt said.

"All I would say is that (coach) Stuart (Pearce) is very comfortable with the team he has and we're looking forward to them starting their first match.

"Stuart made his selections based on fitness and form; you can't predict a recovery period from an injury. Gareth is missing an amazing opportunity which I'm sure he will look back on and be tremendously disappointed about," Hunt added.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports)