Tartan army raps Brown's 2012 UK team plan

Published on Saturday 23 August 2008 22:07

GORDON Brown yesterday provoked the wrath of Scotland's football fans by calling for a British team to compete in the 2012 Olympics.

Speaking from Beijing, the Prime Minister said he was "determined" the move would go ahead.

Britain has not entered a football team in the Olympics since 1960 because of fears it could jeopardise the future of the individual England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Irish national sides.

Brown's views were yesterday supported by England footballer David Beckham who said he believed football deserved its place in the Olympics and left the door open to possibly playing for Great Britain in 2012.

Brown said: "I think when people are looking at the Olympics in 2012 – Britain, home of football, where football was invented, which we gave to the world – I think people would be very surprised if there is an Olympic tournament in football and we are not part of it."

The English Football Association backs Brown, but an SFA spokesman said: "We are absolutely opposed to Team GB. We think it will threaten the independent status of the home nations."

Tam Ferry, the Tartan Army's spokesman for the No Team GB campaign, added: "I think Gordon Brown should be running the country, not sticking his nose in places where it's not wanted."