Former Scotland manager Craig Brown will launch a petition this weekend aimed at stopping a Great Britain team competing at the 2012 Olympics.
The petition, entitled 'Save Scottish Football' will call on the Scottish Government to assess the impact its creation would have on football and the wider economy north of the border.
Opponents of a British team - who include the Scottish Football Association - fear its formation could see the Home Nations lose their individual voting rights within FIFA.
Despite assurances from senior FIFA officials this would not be the case, football's world governing body would be unable to prevent its other member countries campaigning for Britain to play as a single entity on a permanent basis.
MSP Christine Grahame, who has campaigned vigorously against the creation of a GB team, is spearheading the campaign.
She said: "The threat posed by the creation of a GB football team goes way beyond football.
"No one, bar a handful of politically-motivated zealots in London, wants a GB football team - precisely because they recognise the huge threat this poses.
"Craig Brown's petition is a welcome contribution and will give Scots the chance to let their voices be heard by MSPs.
"Documents I have obtained make it explicitly clear that any assurance offered by FIFA would not be binding on future members of the FIFA executive committee - and so the threat posed by such a precedent is real and present, regardless of what FIFA announce next week.
"It is important that all Scots, regardless of their personal or political outlook but who care passionately about the Scottish game, make their opposition known."
FIFA's executive committee is due to meet next Friday in Tokyo, where Grahame claims they will consider a formal complaint made by her regarding alleged political interference by the British Government, who she believes are conspiring to undermine the independence of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish football associations.
Brown revealed his own fears over a British team, saying he believes FIFA are trying to streamline the game because of the number of national teams that emerged in the 1990s following the break-up of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.
He told BBC Alba: "I don't trust FIFA to say it'll be a one-off. I think it's the thin edge of the wedge.
"I firmly believe FIFA want to combine nations now.
"One way to (do) it is to combine the four countries here and make it a GB team."
Opponents of a British team - who include the Scottish Football Association - fear its formation could see the Home Nations lose their individual voting rights within FIFA.
Despite assurances from senior FIFA officials this would not be the case, football's world governing body would be unable to prevent its other member countries campaigning for Britain to play as a single entity on a permanent basis.
MSP Christine Grahame, who has campaigned vigorously against the creation of a GB team, is spearheading the campaign.
She said: "The threat posed by the creation of a GB football team goes way beyond football.
"No one, bar a handful of politically-motivated zealots in London, wants a GB football team - precisely because they recognise the huge threat this poses.
"Craig Brown's petition is a welcome contribution and will give Scots the chance to let their voices be heard by MSPs.
"Documents I have obtained make it explicitly clear that any assurance offered by FIFA would not be binding on future members of the FIFA executive committee - and so the threat posed by such a precedent is real and present, regardless of what FIFA announce next week.
"It is important that all Scots, regardless of their personal or political outlook but who care passionately about the Scottish game, make their opposition known."
FIFA's executive committee is due to meet next Friday in Tokyo, where Grahame claims they will consider a formal complaint made by her regarding alleged political interference by the British Government, who she believes are conspiring to undermine the independence of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish football associations.
Brown revealed his own fears over a British team, saying he believes FIFA are trying to streamline the game because of the number of national teams that emerged in the 1990s following the break-up of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.
He told BBC Alba: "I don't trust FIFA to say it'll be a one-off. I think it's the thin edge of the wedge.
"I firmly believe FIFA want to combine nations now.
"One way to (do) it is to combine the four countries here and make it a GB team."
Copyright (c) Press Association
Related Articles
'It was a gut feeling': why Scotland star spurned Socceroos
Matildas' new Serie A star announces international retirement
