Fifa president Sepp Blatter has dismissed the possibility of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales playing as one United Kingdom team in the future.

Doubts have re-surfaced about the autonomy of the British associations in view of Fifa's statutes being re-written for its centenary year in 2004.

But Blatter insisted: "There is no threat to the four British teams, who will continue to play as individual teams.

"Those changes are taboo at Fifa. The British associations will not be touched."

Football's governing body is also due to review the status of the permanent British vice-presidency on the executive committee, which has been in place since 1946.

Blatter confirmed the vice-presidency is being discussed as part of the overall review of the organisation's statutes.

"There is a proposal that the British vice-presidency should be changed to a normal member and be added to the quota of European representatives on the executive committee," he said.

"However, there were a number of voices in opposition on the executive committee in changing the status quo."