Tarcisio BertoneThe Vatican may … field an international-level soccer team?

The idea of equipping the world’s smallest sovereign state with a competitive football club is the brainchild of one of its most influential officials: Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. Recently appointed as the Holy See’s new Secretary of State, the highest Vatican posting after the pope, Bertone is an enthusiastic football fan.

… Bertone said: “I do not rule out that the Vatican could in the future set up a competitive football team that could play on the same level as the likes of Roma, Inter, Genoa and Sampdoria.”

Italian football federation (FIGC) officials, as well as their colleagues at Europe’s governing body, UEFA, are not taking the matter lightly and are ready to welcome the white-and-yellow jerseys with open arms.

“We would not have a problem admitting a team from the Vatican, all they would have to do is apply,” a FIGC spokesperson told Deutsche Presse Agentur dpa on Monday.

“The Vatican is a sovereign state that is recognised by the United Nations, so we would have no problem accepting it as one of our members, as long as certain conditions are fulfilled,” [said] William Gaillard, UEFA’s director of communications and public affairs.

[The Raw Story]

Le cardinal italien Tarcisio Bertone devient secrétaire d’Etat du Vatican: Link

The Vatican: www.vatican.va

Wikipedia: Vatican City

US State Department: Holy See

United Nations and the Holy See

The Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations

Vatican makes first U.N. speech [September 2004, MS-NBC]
“Secretary condemns cloning, solo response to terrorism” — no word about football.

I find no indication from the United Nations itself that the Holy See is a member state –
United Nations: Member States : Press Release July 2006