The three nations have been opposed to the participation of their football players alongside their English counterparts in the unified Team GB squad as they believe it threatens their status as independent football nations.

FIFA, who run the Olympic football tournament, have allowed Britain to field a united team at London 2012 – the first time that will have happened at an Olympic Games since 1972, when they failed to qualify for Munich, losing to Bulgaria in a two-legged playoff.

"You can always understand [their concerns]," Valcke told BBC Sport.

"We should forget about these problems when you're talking about an event like the Olympic Games.

"There's a team and this team should be composed by the four British associations.

"We finalised an agreement between the four British associations and FIFA.

"It took a long time – there was a lot of exchange of letters and things said, and a lot of words used in this period.

"Let the players play.

"If they want to play, let them.

"For the players, when you are 20, 21, 23 it's a dream.

"And that's what we have to respect."

The men's football tournament at the Olympics is for players aged under 23, though three over age exceptions are allowed to be selected.


A number of high profile players could therefore be involved this summer, including LA Galaxy's David Beckham (pictured), Manchester United's Ryan Giggs and Lille's Joe Cole.

Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale and fellow Welshman Aaron Ramsey have also consistently stated their desire to play in Team GB, and a number of other players from the home nations have expressed hope that they could be part of the squad.

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