Row Brewing Over Olympic Football

Proposals for a British team to take part in the London 2012 Olympic football tournament have been criticised by Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he wants to have both men’s and women’s teams playing at the London Games in 2012.

However Salmond commented: ‘The whole concept’s ridiculous and only could be put forward by somebody who’s seriously out of touch with Scotland.

‘Who on earth would really want to jeopardise or sacrifice the future of Scotland as an international football country so we could have a couple of players in an under-23 team in four years’ time?’

The Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland football bodies have opposed any such move in case it affects their status within governing body FIFA. 

There has been no British Olympic team since 1960, partly because of fears it could jeopardise individual sides.

Prime Minister Brown, who has suggested Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson could manage the side, has been speaking with FIFA to reach an agreement on establishing British football teams.

He stated: ‘I am determined to work with the football associations and the International Olympic Committee to ensure that, when we come to 2012, we have a men’s football team and we have a women’s football team playing.’

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has suggested that it would be better for Britain to field a team entirely made up of English players because ‘this will then not provoke a long and endless discussion of the four British associations’.