There seem to be some doubts raised over the safety of an independent Scottish team in the future if a Team GB is allowed to take part in the Olympic football tournament.

SNP politicians have responded to reports in several Sunday newspapers that a FIFA delegation has warned the SFA that the establishment of a UK football team for the Olympics will put the independence of Scottish football at risk. SFA president George Peat was given the news from a FIFA delegation — led by President Sepp Blatter — at a meeting of the International Football Association Board in Northern Ireland. The news is at odds with claims by several Labour politicians - including Scotland Secretary Jim Murphy - that FIFA had given "reassurances" that a Team GB would not threaten Scotland's footballing independence.

Commenting the SNP's Culture, Media and Sport Spokesperson at Westminster, Pete Wishart MP said: "Jim Murphy claimed he had reassurances from FIFA that a Team GB could take part in the 2012 Olympics without damaging the independence of football bodies in the home nations. These reports now drive a coach and horses through that claim. With FIFA now categorically telling the SFA that a UK Olympics football team will threaten Scottish footballing independence he has questions to answer on that claim and I will be pursuing him on this issue in the House of Commons."

SNP MSP Stuart McMillan, a member of the Scottish Parliament's football team, said: "Football is Scotland's national sport and the people of Scotland take great pride in supporting their national team. Labour may say it is okay to have a single UK team but the people who should really be listened to are the SFA and the Tartan Army. As these reports show FIFA is making it clear that the very creation of such a team would only add weight to the arguments of those who seek to take away Scotland's footballing independence. It would raise questions amongst other FIFA members who would ask why Scotland should have its own independent representation in world football. All the national supporters' associations in the UK oppose this plan and a majority of the football associations want nothing to do with it. Gordon Brown and Jim Murphy should give up on their plan to threaten Scotland's footballing independence."

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