SFA will OPPOSE new plan for men's GB team to compete at Olympics in Los Angeles

Scotland's football bosses will vehemently oppose a new plan to take a men’s GB team to the next Olympics in Los Angeles.

Andy Anson, chief exec of the British Olympic Association, revealed in Paris that he hopes to hold discussions with the SFA about giving their seal of approval to a united four nations side to take part in the tournament in four years’ time. However, Record Sport understands when news of Anson’s proposal reached Hampden’s sixth floor, it went down like a lead balloon. SFA president Mike Mulraney will lead the dissenting voices having already made his views clear on the dangers of rubber-stamping any future Great Britain side.

He believes such a move would inevitably endanger Scotland’s participation on the global stage and fears rival countries would immediately apply pressure on UEFA and FIFA to force England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to compete as one nation. Team GB broke with tradition in 2012 when a men’s team was assembled for the London Olympics.

After a furious reaction from the governing body north of the border, not a single Scottish player was drafted into the squad. And Mulraney is believed to be even more strongly opposed than predecessors to the idea.

Last night an SFA statement said: “The SFA’s position regarding Team GB remains unchanged but, as in previous years, we would not stand in the way of individuals who may wish to participate in any Olympic Games.”

Twelve years ago it was widely speculated that former Scotland skipper Darren Fletcher was in contention for the GB Olympic squad but the Manchester United man did not make himself available for selection.

It’s believed British Olympic Association chiefs intend to ramp up the pressure to urge the SFA to get on board