Andy Burnham, the new secretary of state for culture, media and sport, is to throw his weight behind efforts for a Great Britain football team at the London 2012 Olympics.
The Scottish and Welsh Football Associations oppose the move to form a British
team in case it affects their separate status within FIFA, but Burnham insisted
he will work to persuade them that a British team at 2012 would be a one-off.
Burnham said: 'The idea of seeing a British football team is something I feel very excited about.
'It would be a great thing and while we are proud of our individual
traditions as home nations, coming together for this one-off event to play
together as Great Britain is something I believe the public would enjoy.
'Our guide should be whether the public would enjoy it and it would be a
tremendous thing to happen during this special occasion for the country.
'I just hope we can overcome any differences and bring a strong British
football team to the London Olympics.'
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has assured the associations that a one-off
British team would not affect the status of the home nations but Scotland and
Wales are unwilling to take the risk.
Scotland's former FIFA vice-president David Will has advised against the move
saying that although Blatter may have that intention, whoever succeeds him may
have a different opinion.
The British Olympic Association (BOA) are continuing to seek a solution but no
further talks are planned until after the Beijing Games this summer.
Sir Alex Ferguson has been linked as a possible manager of the British team
and is understood to have had informal discussions with London 2012 chairman
Sebastian Coe, but it is the BOA and the football associations involved who
would make the appointment.
