Peat wary of political 'meddling'

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He fears FIFA could take the dramatic step of suspending the national team as a result of the row over a proposed British Olympic team. Holyrood's Public Petitions Committee agreed on Tuesday to write to FIFA and other governing bodies to seek clarification on their position on the prospect of a unified UK team taking part in 2012.

Peat told the Scottish Sun: "The message from FIFA is to keep politics out or they won't be pleased. They can suspend teams from international competition and have done so."

He added: "We've been told there should be no political interference or there may be consequences.

"They could tell us that Scotland is no longer eligible to participate in the World Cup.

"FIFA have suspended countries recently. The Poles were threatened with a ban only last year when politicians became too involved.

"And another country was suspended while we were at the FIFA congress in Sydney last May.

"So it does happen and the warning we have had is to keep politicians out because they will harm our cause if they continue to meddle."

SNP MSP Christine Grahame said: "Keeping quiet on such an important issue may suit Gordon Brown and Lord Seb Coe, the men behind this GB proposal, but we would be failing in our own duty as elected representatives of the people of Scotland if we did not speak out against it."

Grahame wants a meeting with SFA chief executive Gordon Smith, adding: "I have asked on several occasions to meet with Mr Smith to discuss this, but he has declined."