The world governing body's ruling Executive Committee, meeting in Tokyo on Friday and Saturday, is expected to formally give permission for united British teams to compete in the men and women's football tournaments in 2012.

 

But the Scottish FA and their counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland remain firmly opposed to the idea because they believe it will jeopardise their independence to compete in the World Cup and European Championships.

 

George Peat, the SFA president, said: "There is no chance of us taking part in any shape or form.

 

"We are adamant about this, as are the Welsh and Irish FAs.

"Personally, I'd prefer it if the English FA were the same, because I think going ahead with a GB team in any form, even with only English players, won't do our case any good."

 

Peat is supported by David Will, the honorary vice-president of the SFA who retired as a FIFA vice-president last year, and has consistently warned that Scotland should do nothing that might put its cherished independent status in jeopardy.

He said: "This does not make one whit of difference to the stance of the three associations who are opposed to a Great Britain team in the Olympics.

 

"They are not obliged to take part, no matter what form of approval FIFA give to it, and I am sure they won't take part.

"I remain completely supportive of the SFA's stance on this."

 

A British team won the Olympic football tournament in 1900, 1908 and 1912 but last entered the competition when they failed to qualify for the 1972 Games in Munich when the side was made up of amateur players.

 

They last took part in the Olympics proper at Rome in 1960.

 

Sepp Blatter, the President of FIFA, has tried to reassure the Scottish FA that taking part in a united team would not cause a threat to their independence but has also said that if the British team were made up of just English players then that would also be acceptable.

 

Will said: "It would set a very dangerous precedent to allow Scottish players to be involved in a GB football team at the Olympics.

"To my mind, FIFA would only have a decision to make on this issue if all four British associations approached them for permission to field a unified team at the Olympics.

 

"That is the only scenario where they would be required to formally approve a team.

 

"But that is not the case, because England are the only association interested."