Image caption The saltire cannot be flown at Hampden stadium during the Olympic games

SNP MEP Alyn Smith has criticised Olympic bosses for banning the saltire from being flown over Hampden Park in Glasgow during the Games.

Scotland's national stadium will hold eight London 2012 football matches.

Scottish athletes represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games and tickets state there should be no flags of countries not taking part.

Games officials said the ban would not apply to fans, as long as they were not making "political statements".

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However, a spokesman for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog) confirmed the rules would mean the saltire could not be flown over Hampden, which is hosting some Olympic football matches.

Mr Smith, an SNP member of the European Parliament, welcomed "common sense" on fans taking Scotland's national flag inside Hampden, when it stages Olympic events.

He said: "However, it's still completely ridiculous and unacceptable that Scotland's national flag is going to be pulled down from its iconic place flying over Scotland's national stadium."