Scottish football

Alyn Smith MEP and Stuart McMillan MSP have welcomed reassurances from Michel Platini, the President of UEFA, that he remains firmly committed to the independent status of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and that UEFA have no plans alter that status.

The SNP has revealed research showing the London Olympics set a precedent for all four home nation football teams to take part in the Olympic Games.

Scottish Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell has given the SFA his full backing over their opposition to a GB team at the London 2012 Olympics as Gordon Brown continues his efforts to force a GB football team.

The news that FIFA could formally approve a GB football team for the Olympics later this week despite opposition from the football associations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and all national fan associations throughout the UK has raised concern in the Scottish Parliament.

Commenting on a claim by Labour of "reassurance" from FIFA that a UK football team at the next Olympics would not affect the independence of the Scottish national squad, SNP MSP Stuart McMillan, a member of the Scottish Parliament's football team, pointed out that if that were the case then why did the SFA want nothing to do with the project.