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| Scots say no to Olympic football | Scots say no to Olympic football |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Scottish FA has reiterated its opposition to taking part in a British football team at the Olympics. | The Scottish FA has reiterated its opposition to taking part in a British football team at the Olympics. |
| The British Olympics Association has revealed that a British team will feature in the 2012 Games in London. | The British Olympics Association has revealed that a British team will feature in the 2012 Games in London. |
| The chief executive of the Scottish FA, Gordon Smith, said he hoped Scottish players would not take part. | The chief executive of the Scottish FA, Gordon Smith, said he hoped Scottish players would not take part. |
| He said the move could pose a threat to Scotland's independence on the world football stage. Wales and Northern Ireland have also opposed the move. | He said the move could pose a threat to Scotland's independence on the world football stage. Wales and Northern Ireland have also opposed the move. |
| Independent status | |
| Mr Smith said: "All the players who are registered under the association or are Scottish international players would be prohibited from playing. | Mr Smith said: "All the players who are registered under the association or are Scottish international players would be prohibited from playing. |
| "Some individuals may want to get involved, but I don't see it as an issue." | "Some individuals may want to get involved, but I don't see it as an issue." |
| He added: "Maybe somewhere down the line some people could argue that our autonomy could be questioned if we are part of a British team. | He added: "Maybe somewhere down the line some people could argue that our autonomy could be questioned if we are part of a British team. |
| "Although we don't expect that to happen, we would leave ourselves open to question if we were part of a British team as far as the Olympics were concerned." | "Although we don't expect that to happen, we would leave ourselves open to question if we were part of a British team as far as the Olympics were concerned." |
| Fifa president Sepp Blatter has always maintained a British Olympic team would not threaten the independent status of any of the associations. | |
| We will field a team and the comfort that we've got, the commitments that we've got from the IOC reinforce that aspiration Simon CleggBOA chief executive | |
| Last year, the BOA insisted they would go ahead regardless. | |
| The British Olympic Association (BOA) have now revealed that they have been encouraged by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to field a team in both the men's and women's competitions at the London 2012 Games. | |
| BOA chief executive Simon Clegg told the BBC's Inside Sport programme: "Ever since London wonthe Games, we've been very clear. | |
| "It would be absolutely inconceivable for us to host the world's greatestsporting event in this country that includes as an integral part of thatcompetition, football, our national sport, and for us not to field a team. | |
| "And we will field a team and the comfort that we've got, the commitments that we've got from the IOC reinforce that aspiration. | |
| "This will be a national celebration and I would be greatly saddened if some of our most talented players north or south of the border or west of the dyke would be deprived of the opportunity to compete as part of a Great Britain team because of sports politics or because of sports administrators unable to act in the best interests of their athletes." |