THIS is NOT a party political broadcast on behalf of the SNP. But, in football terms, right now we must beware England.
When the English FA tried to bulldoze through a United Kingdom football team for the Rio Olympics in 2016, it quickly developed into an almighty row of parliamentary proportions.
Fortunately Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales closed ranks to ensure the English were outflanked and forced to withdraw their controversial plans. FIFA also stated they would only lend backing if all four home countries agreed.
The English got their way with Team GB for the 2012 Olympics. But the other three home nations stressed this was a one-off because they were staged in London.
Yet in trying to court favour with FIFA, the English FA thought they could ride roughshod over their neighbours for the next Olympics.
Clearly they under-estimated the strength of feeling in the rest of the UK. The Scottish FA has led the way in refusing to amalgamate for the Olympics for decades. The Irish and Welsh are in full agreement.
All fear loss of independence within FIFA if a UK team regularly features at the Olympics. The argument abroad is if the UK enter the football Olympics, the UK should enter the World Cup. There are many within FIFA waiting to rid the UK of four separate memberships.
With only 13 European places available at World Cup Finals, reducing UK numbers from four to one appeals to many on the Continent. This feeling has grown as UEFA’s numbers have increased to 54.
Only once have all four UK members qualified for the same World Cup finals, Sweden in 1958.
However, with all in strong contention to qualify for next summer’s European Championship Finals in France, football in the UK is definitely improving on the international front.
If this continues, all four could qualify for the next World Cup finals in Russia in 2018.
Yet the English FA is willing to gamble on this because they have least to lose.
How many non-English players would make a UK squad? After Gareth Bale, it’s difficult to envisage anyone else.
How often would a UK team play in Glasgow, Belfast and Cardiff?
Already Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Newcastle feel isolated because England play all their home games at Wembley.
So even the English can’t agree amongst themselves why should we go along with them?
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