This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7723932.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Fifa says Team GB 'poses no risk' | Fifa says Team GB 'poses no risk' |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| A British Olympic football team would not jeopardise the international status of the home nations, it is claimed. | A British Olympic football team would not jeopardise the international status of the home nations, it is claimed. |
| Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy has gained assurances from Fifa that a one-off under-23 squad in 2012 would not impact on the home teams' standings. | Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy has gained assurances from Fifa that a one-off under-23 squad in 2012 would not impact on the home teams' standings. |
| The football governing bodies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all oppose a Great Britain team. | The football governing bodies of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all oppose a Great Britain team. |
| First Minister Alex Salmond | |
| Mr Murphy said it was for football people to decide but the SFA said it still saw the idea as a threat. | Mr Murphy said it was for football people to decide but the SFA said it still saw the idea as a threat. |
| The Scottish secretary told BBC Scotland he had been seeking assurances over the possibility of a GB international team taking part in the 2012 London Olympics. | The Scottish secretary told BBC Scotland he had been seeking assurances over the possibility of a GB international team taking part in the 2012 London Olympics. |
| He said: "I'm a football fan, I'm a Scotland fan, as well as being the secretary of state and I share the concerns that many people had about the impact it might have on the Scottish national team. | He said: "I'm a football fan, I'm a Scotland fan, as well as being the secretary of state and I share the concerns that many people had about the impact it might have on the Scottish national team. |
| At some point, there is a real danger that a precedent of a Team GB will come back and threaten our status SFA spokesman "That's why I met Jerome Valcke, the general secretary of Fifa, yesterday and told him about my concerns and the concerns that many Scots have. | At some point, there is a real danger that a precedent of a Team GB will come back and threaten our status SFA spokesman "That's why I met Jerome Valcke, the general secretary of Fifa, yesterday and told him about my concerns and the concerns that many Scots have. |
| "He confirmed that Fifa, of course who regulate football, that the executive will agree that this one-off under-23 tournament could take place and it will not jeopardise the status of any of the home nations and I think that's very welcome news." | "He confirmed that Fifa, of course who regulate football, that the executive will agree that this one-off under-23 tournament could take place and it will not jeopardise the status of any of the home nations and I think that's very welcome news." |
| Concerns have been raised that a combined British team could affect the status of individual nations within football's governing body Fifa. | Concerns have been raised that a combined British team could affect the status of individual nations within football's governing body Fifa. |
| SNP MSP Stuart McMillan, a member of the Scottish Parliament's football team, raised comments made by Fifa president Sepp Blatter in March that a GB team would put into question the privileges that the British associations have been given by the world body. | SNP MSP Stuart McMillan, a member of the Scottish Parliament's football team, raised comments made by Fifa president Sepp Blatter in March that a GB team would put into question the privileges that the British associations have been given by the world body. |
| Mr McMillan said: "This is not a guarantee that the independence of the SFA and the other three national associations in the UK will not be threatened by a single UK football Olympic team. | Mr McMillan said: "This is not a guarantee that the independence of the SFA and the other three national associations in the UK will not be threatened by a single UK football Olympic team. |
| "It is not in the gift of officials but all members of Fifa who could take away the SFA's independence." | "It is not in the gift of officials but all members of Fifa who could take away the SFA's independence." |
| Tournament call | Tournament call |
| An SFA spokesman also stressed that Fifa is an organisation made up of its members and it was their views which were important. | An SFA spokesman also stressed that Fifa is an organisation made up of its members and it was their views which were important. |
| He added: "We await with interest the outcome of Fifa's deliberations next month but we must be clear on this. | He added: "We await with interest the outcome of Fifa's deliberations next month but we must be clear on this. |
| "We will not do anything that we feel would jeopardise our status as a footballing nation in our own right. At this stage, we feel that a Team GB does just that. | "We will not do anything that we feel would jeopardise our status as a footballing nation in our own right. At this stage, we feel that a Team GB does just that. |
| "At some point, there is a real danger that a precedent of a Team GB will come back and threaten our status as a separate nation." | "At some point, there is a real danger that a precedent of a Team GB will come back and threaten our status as a separate nation." |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown supports the idea of a Team GB and last week Tory leader David Cameron suggested a 2012 London Olympics team could be decided by playing a home nations tournament. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown supports the idea of a Team GB and last week Tory leader David Cameron suggested a 2012 London Olympics team could be decided by playing a home nations tournament. |
| Alex Salmond however rejected Fifa's viewpoint. | |
| He said: "To jeopardise the entire future of Scottish international football on the basis of an undertaking from one official, at one point in time, I think is daft. | |
| "And all for participation in an under-23 tournament of a few players." |