A Small Far Away Country Of Which We Know Little

THE above heading may have been used by Neville Chamberlain in the lead-up to World War II, but, increasingly, I feel it sums-up Metropolitan London's approach to Scotland - and Scottish sport.

Down there, at the far end of the Watford Gap, they have great difficulty in differentiating between England and Great Britain. We Scots are seen as a bunch of troublesome subsidy junkies of whom they (Middle England) would be better shot off.

Of course, this anti-Scottishness never quite bubbles up to the extent of them actually letting us go. I believe the debate, in fact the whole stooshie, would be great fun, should say a Tory Prime Minister, with a huge English majority, ever pick-up the telephone to the Scottish First Minister and say: "OK, you win, you can have your independence".

But, enough of politics - back to fitba.

Today, right out of left field, The Scotsman ran an article concerning Lord Sebastian Coe's belief that the "British" football team in the 2012 London Olympics, really ought to be just that - a "British" team, with players from all four Home Countries, instead of, as currently planned, being an "England" team by any other name.

I thought England had won this argument. The (English) Football Association has, for 105 years, been the sport of football's representatives on the British Olympic Association, who run the British Olympic Games teams across the whole range of sports.

EVERY other Olympic sport, from archery to yachting, in which the four Home Countries compete internationally as individual nations, put together an umbrella organisation to represent that sport on the BOA - football didn't, Olympic football, in this country has always been the FA's game.

Britain opted out after 1972, when the FA abolished the distinction between amateur and professional players; this meant they could no longer enter a Team GB, since the Olympics were then resolutely amateur.

This is no longer the case and as hosts, Team GB is entitled to enter a football team in 2012, this caused conflict. When this notion first arose the Northern Irish, Scots and Welsh, mindful of their independence as international nations in their own right, wanted nothing to do with a Team GB in 2012 - although the Irish wavered a bit - while the rebellious Scots led the opposition.

Finally, a compromise was reached whereby Team GB would be an England-only production; FIFA made certain promises regarding the continued international independence of the three Celtic nations and, brow-beaten on all sides, the SFA dropped their opposition.

Now, less than a year on, the English having got their own way - Lord Coe is making waves - or is he?

His background is in athletics; he hasn't a clue about football politics, he doesn't give a stuff about Scotland's entirely justified qualms about this 2012 team; all he wants is a successful London Olympics. He feels, perhaps, an England-only Team GB football squad will not fully reflect that these are British games - that's my reading any way.

But, if he has his way, the international independence of ALL FOUR British football associations will be compromised.

If a British team takes the field in London in 2012, it will play into the hands of Jack Warner and those other FIFA big wigs who hate the fact that all four British countries are independent at FIFA. It will play into the hands of those (English)FA "blazers" who think they are football in these islands. It may have dire consequences for the SFA.

The men who strut the corridors of power at Hampden MUST make certain, by agreeing to let the English play at home, it doesn't lead to the end of Scotland as an independent football nation.

The FA has won the battle, now, apparently, this wasn't enough. I'm concerned, very concerned.