THE new chief executive of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) has said that he is in support of a united British team at the 2012 Olympics but he will not try to change his employers opposition to the idea.
Graham Smith, a former Glasgow Rangers player, appeared in a debate on BBC’s Newsnight in January on the subject when he said he did not believe such a plan would jeopardise Scotland’s status as an independent football nation.
David Taylor, his predecessor at the SFA, had been bitterly opposed to the idea because he claimed world governing body FIFA would use it as an opportunity to force through a united British team in events such as the World Cup and European Championships.
Smith The Scotsman in an interview published today: “Any position I have to take regarding an Olympic football team will be promoting the stance of the SFA.
“It’s not a major issue as far as I’m concerned, just as I don’t believe the Olympic football tournament is a major event in our sport, and it is not something which is on my agenda.
“If the SFA do not want to take part, that’s fine by me and I will back that stance.
“I’ve got more important things to think about.
“When I was asked about it on Newsnight, I was very clear that I had no problem with Scotland joining up as part of a British team so long as it was not going to affect our national team or our club sides taking part in European competitions.
“If that was the case, I would not be in favour of it at all.”
The full article can be read at http://sport.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=902452007.