But the Scottish Football Association have made it clear they want no part of a Team GB because they fear it could lead to them losing their independence to compete in events like the World Cup and European Championships.

 

Reedie, a Scot himself who was knighted in the Queen’s New Year Honours List last week, is working behind the scenes to convince the SFA to change their minds. The Football Association of Wales is also against the idea for the same reason.

 

He has already secured a guarantee from Sepp Blatter, the president of world governing body FIFA and a fellow member of the International Olympic Committee, that the Home Countries right to compete individually would not be affected by them joining together for an Olympic tournament.

 

“I’m sure there will be a British football team at the London Games, and I’m pretty sure that by the end of the day the SFA will be with us,” said Reedie. “It would be a great, great regret to me if there was no Scottish involvement.”

 

Hampden Park in Glasgow is one of six stadiums outside London scheduled to host matches during the Olympics and there is a proposal that the first game of the tournament could be held in Scotland featuring a British team two days before the opening ceremony.

 

The SFA has also rejected a proposal by Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell that a Home Nations tournament be held to decide to represent Britain in 2012.

 

The British Olympic Association appears to have the support of the public across Britain for the selection of Team GB football teams for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The BOA commissioned National Opinion Poll into the levels of national support for the BOA entering Great Britain Olympic Teams in the 2012 Games shows a 75 per cent approval rating from the British public.

 

Public support in the poll, conducted by the BOA’s official research partner, Sports Marketing Surveys, is consistent throughout age groups, sexes and regions.

 

Support is highest in the 18 -24 year-old age group at 79 per cent. 73 per cent of British women support the idea of Team GB competing in football at the London Olympic Games. Welsh support runs at 73 per cent and in Scotland, the public approval rating is 69 per cent, according to the survey.

 

“I hope that the Scottish Football Association may yet reconsider their decision not to participate in the British teams,” said the Sports Minister Richard Caborn.
“We have received clear assurances from FIFA that taking part would not compromise the separate status of the four home nations in international football. This should be a Games for the whole of the country, with everyone involved, sharing in the excitement and the real benefits the world's greatest event will bring.”