Brown urges UK Olympics soccer team

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

But speaking from Beijing, Mr Brown, a keen football fan, said he would be "surprised" if a team from the UK would not compete on home soil in 2012.

He told Sky News: "I hope there will be a team by 2012. It will be Team UK. I hope we can get an agreement on that.

"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."

Mr Brown said he had talked with Sepp Blatter, president of world football's governing body Fifa to discuss the situation..

"I am determined to work with the football associations and the Olympic Committee to ensure that when we come to 2012 we have a men's football team and we have a women's football team playing," Mr Brown said.

The SNP's sport spokesman in Westminster, Pete Wishart, said: "This is a spectacular own goal for Brown. He is out of touch with the overwhelming views of football supporters throughout the UK.

"All the national supporters groups oppose this move and see it as a threat to the status of their nations to field independent football squads.

"Not only do all the national supporters associations oppose such a move but the majority of football associations in the UK have said they do not want to take part in a single UK team as it could threaten their existence within Fifa."