FIFA and UEFA have made clear they will recognise that the unification of the Home Nations for the tournament would be a one off, but Scotland, along with Wales and Northern Ireland, believe their independence would be in jeopardy if they were to participate as part of the Great Britain team.

Many are upset that it may be left to English players to represent the team, particularly the British Olympic Association and the English FA.

But Coe, the chairman of London 2012, who was at Hampden Park to launch the fact that Glasgow will be hosting football there during the Olympics, says their fear is reasonable and should be acknowledged.

"If that is a fear then what I think or whether I feel that fear is genuine or not, doesn't matter - to them that fear is legitimate," he said.

"Of course I recognise that - you can't have been brought up in football, and I'm 55 so I have been watching football for 45 years, and be unaware of what a Scotland team means to Scotland.

"I don't think there is a single person anywhere in the world who would argue that football is anything other than a serious pastime in Scotland and that you take it seriously.

"It does define the nation, but this is very much an issue for the Home Associations and for the BOA."

But Coe nevertheless urged Glasgow fans to get behind their city staging Olympic football in 2012.

"The Olympic Games is the greatest show on earth and the application process to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity opens on March 15," he said.

"The Olympic football tournament at Hampden Park represents a brilliant opportunity for the people of Glasgow to see some of the stars of the future playing at their local ground."


Related stories
March 2011: "Wales should be in the Olympics in own right" says football chief
February 2011: Sir Bobby Charlton confident Home Countries will be part of British football team at London 2012
January 2011: Coe wants British Dream Team at London 2012
December 2010: Northern Ireland players will be allowed to take part in London 2012
December 2010: Exclusive - BOA will not support exclusion of non-English players from London 2012 football team