Athletes and those involved in Scottish sports "continue to debate the effects on the sporting world if the majority of Scots vote 'Yes' in the upcoming Scottish independence referendum" on Thursday, according to Yunus Kaymaz of the ANADOLU AGENCY. The issue of Scotland sending 55 athletes to Great Britain's team during 2012 London Olympics "brought up a debate as to whether Scottish athletes should take part in the upcoming Rio Olympics as part of Great Britain's team" or participate under the IOC's flag. Scottish athletes Andy Murray and Chris Hoy are taking a "precautionary approach to the referendum" while football managers Alex Ferguson and David Moyes support a "No" vote to Scottish independence. The administration of the U.K.'s and Scotland's football leagues "may not be affected if Scotland declares independence from the U.K. since both UEFA and FIFA already recognize Scotland as a separate entity in sports" (AA, 9/16). The Scotland DAILY RECORD reported Ice Hockey UK Interim Chair Jim Anderson "has slammed the Scottish government for leaving minority sports in limbo ahead of the independence vote." Anderson said that Ice Hockey UK was "told about the possible ramifications of a Yes vote more than two-and-a-half years ago." Anderson "ripped into" Commonwealth Games Minister Shona Robison, "claiming her reply to one of his letters was laughable." Anderson: "The Scottish Government simply hasn't grasped what our predicament is. In the response I received we were told Scotland could still compete in the Commonwealth Games. Ice hockey isn't in the Commonwealth Games" (DAILY RECORD, 9/16). The DAILY RECORD reported British Cycling Performance Dir David Brailsford has "urged Scots to vote No in the referendum 'for the sake of UK sport.'" He said, "I hope the U.K. stays together for the benefit of all sport -- but especially Olympic sports like ours" (DAILY RECORD, 9/16).
DUNDEE UNITED CHAIR WEIGHS IN: The HERALD SCOTLAND reported Scottish Premiership side Dundee United Chair Stephen Thompson "has given his backing for a Yes vote on Thursday." He is convinced that "the best people to take decisions on Scotland's
future are the people who live here and he wants to see a Yes vote so
that sport in Scotland can flourish with promotion from a Scottish
broadcaster." Thompson: "Scotland is more than capable of being a
successful independent country -- and a Yes vote will allow Scotland to
maximize its potential on the world stage" (HERALD SCOTLAND, 9/16).