Alyn Smith, a member of the European Parliament, has teamed up with Stuart McMillan, a Scottish MP, to discover what the rest of the world think about the proposal.

 

Among the questions the politicians, both members of the Scottish National Party, have posed is how important the Olympic football tournament is.

 

They believe that Olympics football tournament is designated as an under-23 contest, specifically in order to avoid undermining the World Cup and that the restriction de-values the involvement of football in Games and introduces a discriminatory element which is unique to the sport.

 

 

They also believe, that as the Olympics normally take place in August, the event does not fit with the footballing calendar.

 

 

The pair have written to all 204 national football associations to make them aware of the joint position adopted by the Northern Irish, Welsh and Scots Football Associations that the inclusion of football in the Olympics is simply undesirable for the sport, and asking for the views of the FAs to gauge what sort of enthusiasm exists for the Olympics amongst footballers.

 

 

 

The move follows the intervention of UEFA President Michel Platini in a letter to Smith in which he said: "You may rest assured that I am most firmly committed to the independent status of the Scottish Football Association and that UEFA has no plans to alter that status or the status of the other home football associations."

 

The Scottish FA (SFA) and Scottish Government are opposed to the idea of united British football team in 2012 because they believe it will jeopardise their participation in events like the World Cup and European Championships.

 

 

Smith said: "This is not just about the independence of the SFA, the inclusion of football in the Olympics alongside synchronised swimming, archery and other worthy but minority sports is just wrong headed.

 

"A Team GB for football will not only establish a damaging precedent against the SFA, but will also undermine the other major football tournaments and from the discussions I have had I am pretty confident that not only is there no real appetite outside of New Labour for this to happen, I think we're in with a shout of heading it off altogether.

 

 

"There is still a long way to go before the London Olympics, and I'll not let this rest."

 

 

McMillan said: "I'm disappointed to see the Westminster Government is continuing with the idea of a Team GB football team at the Olympics.

 

"There is no appetite for this within Scotland and for that matter within the football associations of Wales or Northern Ireland.

 

 

"This ill-thought out idea must be stopped before it damages the independence of the SFA and undermines Scotland's footballing reputation.

 

"This is why both Alyn and myself feel it necessary to write to the 204 national football associations to gauge their opinions on this important matter."