The claim was made by Stewart Regan (pictured), the chief executive of the Scottish Football Association (SFA), who is furious with Hunt's comments published first on insidethegames last week that he is "incredibly positive" to a solution to the row that has been going on since London were awarded the Olympics nearly six years ago.

But Regan insists that the position of the SFA remains unchanged and that they will refuse to endorse Team GB because of fears that it will jeopardise their independence to compete in events such as the World Cup and the European Championships. 

"Our position remains: we are opposed to taking part in Team GB," said Regan, who is English.

"I was surprised by Andy Hunt's comments, especially since we have had no dialogue with him.

"We signed a letter to FIFA in 2009 which gave the FA the right to represent the Home Nations as Team GB.

"We need to protect our identity and we have no interest in taking part.

"We have consulted with the Association of Tartan Army Clubs and they are opposed to participation in Team GB and we have also spoken with the squads, who have shown no appetite for it, either."

Hunt's comments coincided with London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe revealing that they still have 1.7 million tickets available for football matches that are taking place across the country, including at Hampden Park in Glasgow and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

"I guess Andy is under a great deal of pressure from the London Olympic Games Organising Committee and the International Olympic Committee to get tickets on sale for the football events," said Regan.

"As we know, there isn't a final position on Team GB as far as football is concerned.

"We haven't spoken to Andy.

We've had dialogue with the Football Association but our position on the matter hasn't changed.

"FIFA have made it clear as far as they're concerned, they're passing the matter back to the British Olympic Authority (sic) and to England to try to get to a successful position as far as a Team GB is concerned.

"We've seen FIFA's comments and they've stated they were prepared to give assurances that there wouldn't be any future repercussions if Scotland do participate in Team GB.

"However, we're aware that any change of FIFA Executive Committee in the future can overturn that decision.

"Therefore, it's very important for us to maintain our independence.

"Scotland has a seat at the FIFA table, it has a seat at the International FA Board under the banner of Scotland.

"As far as we're concerned, that's something we feel is very important and something that we wish to protect."

But Regan admitted that if players like Scotland and Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon - who has in the past expressed an interest in being involved in London 2012 - want to play for Britain in the Olympics then there is nothing they can do to stop them.

"We recognise that, legally, there is nothing we can do to stop players putting their hand up and wishing to take part or being selected to take part," said Regan.

"But it's something that we wouldn't endorse and wouldn't be prepared to put our independence at risk over."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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