FIFA DEMAND LEAVES BROWN GOVERNMENT IN DISARRAY OVER TEAM GB.

FIFA DEMAND LEAVES BROWN GOVERNMENT IN DISARRAY OVER TEAM GB.

WISHART TACKLES MURPHY OVER FANTASY FOOTBALL ASSURANCE.

Commenting on a Sunday Post article which reports that the SFA, and the other UK national football associations, have been told by FIFA to come to an agreement on Team GB for the London Olympics by May, SNP Sport spokesperson Pete Wishart said the revelation further undermined Jim Murphy’s claim of having assurances from FIFA that Team GB would not endanger Scotland’s footballing independence. SFA President George Peat has revealed that FIFA have set a deadline for the matter to be resolved and said that “we don't want anybody playing as 'Team GB'.” The latest revelations clash with comments made by Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy who claimed he had written assurances from FIFA that Team GB would not endanger Scotland’s footballing independence. An FOI request has revealed that the Scotland Office has no record of such written assurances from FIFA. This is despite an explicit statement by UK Sports Minister (Gerry Sutcliffe) that the UK Government had received written assurances. SNP Culture and Sport spokesperson, Pete Wishart, has called on the Secretary of State for Scotland to clarify his position. Commenting, Mr Wishart said: “George Peat’s comments are very welcome and I support him to the hilt. They underline the strength of opposition to the concept of a Team GB football team. “They also undermine the claims being made by several UK government ministers that Team GB is no threat to the independence of the Scottish football team. “Time and time again, Jim Murphy has told us that there are written assurances from FIFA that Team GB would not endanger Scottish football yet his department now admit that he has no such document. “The future of our national teams is far too important to be treated as a political football, and Jim Murphy’s fantasy football assurances over the future of the Scotland team are not worth the paper they apparently aren’t even written on. “The cut and shut creation of a GB side would endanger Scotland’s long term ability to compete in international football, and the UK Government must ditch their crazy proposals and look at ways in which the situation can be resolved. “We must allow no precedent that could be used against us in the future, and no reason or argument given by those who seek to change the status quo has addressed that. “The SFA are opposed, the Tartan Army are opposed and the overwhelming majority of football fans are all against Gordon Brown’s meddling team merger plans. “The future of Scotland’s national game must be assured. Jim Murphy needs to get off the bench and stand up for Scottish football, and he should start by clarifying his position.”