London  - Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe insisted on Wednesday that Great Britain will field a football team at the 2012 Olympics despite opposition.

The Scottish, Welsh and Irish Football Associations are opposed to a joint British team in case it threatens their independent status within Fifa.

Speaking in a debate at Westminster Hall, Sutcliffe said that although he wanted the side to have the "widest representation" from the United Kingdom, it could be that only English players were allowed to compete by the national associations.