Gianni Infantino: 'No issue with British Olympic football team'

New FIFA president Gianni Infantino prior to the Premier League match between Swansea City and Norwich City at Liberty Stadium on March 5, 2016
© Getty Images
FIFA president Gianni Infantino insists that a Great Britain team at the Olympics would have no bearing on the individual status of the Home Nations.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has reassured the Home Nations that forming a Team GB football team at the Olympics will not endanger their independent status in the sport.

Great Britain were part of the London 2012 football tournament, but failed to create a team for Rio this summer due to concerns from some nations that their individual identities could be revoked by FIFA.

However, Infantino has allayed any concerns on that front, insisting that forming a united team once every four years is "not an issue".

"My view is certainly that I don't see this as being an issue. I see things in a much more pragmatic way in general," he told PA.

"The Olympics are such that there has to be one team from the United Kingdom, so if we can find a football solution which allows a football team from the United Kingdom - and if they qualify to play - then this would certainly not jeopardise in any way whatsoever 130, 140, 150 years of history of the four home nations. That's not an issue.

"It's up for them to agree. They speak the same language so they should speak to each other and see how they can best agree to do something like that."

Great Britain were knocked out by South Korea in the quarter-finals of London 2012.

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