From correspondents in London, England, 03:37 PM IST

The Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and English football associations have agreed that Great Britain should field a composite team at the 2012 Olympics.

The compromise plan needs to be first endorsed by the British Olympic Association (BOA), which has always sought a team open to all British players.

A British soccer team has not competed in the Olympics since 1960 but the government is determined to have one at the London Games even if it is not representative of all that make up the United Kingdom.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have resisted the idea of forming a united team at the Olympics for fear of losing their independent status in FIFA.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)