Report: Bale off England soccer team for Olympics

LONDON – Tottenham winger Gareth Bale reportedly won't be available for Britain's soccer team for the Olympics because of injury.

Britain's Press Association says Bale had a recurrence of a back injury while running and has been ruled out of the London Games.

The report Saturday says the 22-year-old Welshman told Britain coach Stuart Pearce that he won't be able to play. Pearce is expected to announce his 18-man squad on Monday. He had already decided to leave out former England captain David Beckham.

Britain faces Senegal, U.A.E. and Uruguay in its group games at the Olympics.

Bale was expected to be one of Britain's best players at the Olympics. But the report says he decided against playing at the games and possibly aggravating the back problem with the start of the Premier League season less than two months away.