By Duncan Mackay in Denver
March 29 – Jacques Rogge (pictured) has said he hopes Britain will compete in the football tournament at London in 2012 but is refusing to get involved in the row over how the team is selected.
The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been closely following the controversy that has split British football.
The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Football Associations are determined not to participate in a united football team for London 2012 because they fear it could jeopardise their independence and lead to them being unable to compete in events like the World Cup and the European Championships.
World governing body FIFA have now set a deadline of May 31 for the row to be settled.
Rogge admitted to insidethegames at the Sport Accord conference that the on-going debate is confusing to most people abroad.
He said: “In sport the situation of the Home Countries is complicated for those not born in the country.”
George Peat, the president of the Scottish Football Association (SFA), has warned that they will not cave into political pressure from Prime Minister Gordon Brown to participate in a joint team for London 2012.
He said: ”We are not weak at the SFA and we will not give in.
“There is no way we will sign away our existence.
“We have a Scottish Prime Minister yet he is behind this.
“We are very disappointed.
“This is all about politics.
“If we are not very careful, there will not be a Scotland international team.”
British Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has admitted that a British side in 2012 could be composed entirely of English players.
Rogge said: “I would hope that there is a very good British football team at London.
“How it is composed is up to them.”
Related Stories: