The Tottenham Hotspur full-back, along with clubmate Chris Gunther and Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, is considered the player most likely from Wales to be included in a British football team in 2012 that would largely be made up of under-23 players but the consequences if he defied the Football Association of Wales (FAW) would be severe.

David Collins, the secretary of the FAW, said: "We're not for budging on this, it's as simple as that.

"We have taken a decision to have nothing to do with a GB United side and that remains the case.

"To be honest, any pressure that is being brought to bear seems to be coming only from London.

"I can understand, on the back of the huge GB success in Beijing, the banging of the drums, the call for a GB soccer team for an Olympics hosted in London.

"If any of our players put their hand up and said they wanted to play in the Olympics, they would not be able to do it.

"They are Welsh players and we would not give them permission.

"As such, they could not play in a GB team.

"That has been our stance, that will continue to be our stance."

Under the rules of FIFA, the WFA would have the right to ban any player that did something they were not allowed to do.

Like the Scottish FA, the Welsh are concerned that if they participate in a joint British team it could affect their rights to compete as an individual nation at events like the World Cup and European Championships.

The topic is back in the spotlight after remarks allegedly made last week by Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012, about ignorning the wishes of Wales and Scotland and reported in the London Paper.

He has denied making them and is now consulting lawyers about taking legal action against the newspaper.