GLASGOW, September 16 (RIA Novosti), Mark Hirst – Scotland's football fans believe the remarks by former captain of England’s national football team David Beckham urging Scots to vote against independence, were late and irrelevant, a fan association spokesman told RIA Novosti Monday.

“As much as David Beckham is respected by football fans in Scotland, any intervention by him into the debate is irrelevant,” said Hamish Husband, a spokesman for the West of Scotland Tartan Army, an Association that represents Scotland football fans.

On Monday, former captain of England’s national football team David Beckham called for Scots to vote No in the upcoming independence referendum.

“We want to let you know how very much we value our relationship and friendship. Of course, regardless of your decision, that will never change; however, my sincere hope is that you will vote to renew our historic bond which has been such a success over the centuries and the envy of the entire world,” Beckham said in a statement.

A number of celebrities have publicly called for Scots to vote No, including former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones and television historian Dan Snow.

Husband rejected the so-called “love-bombing” from British media celebrities and sporting figures that has taken place in recent weeks.

“The love-bombing that is going on just now is overwhelming,” he said. “The discussion that is now taking place in England about Scottish independence is about a year too late. They should have been involved in the discussion and the thoughts going on before now, but they were hidden from it.”

Husband added that there were more important issues for football fans to consider, though acknowledging an inherent threat from FIFA, the football world’s governing body, that Scotland may lose its international side if it rejects national independence.

A number of FIFA members have objected to the UK’s “special status” which allows the four constituent parts of the UK, (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) to compete as separate countries in international competitions, despite the UK being a single unitary political state.

“Obviously, Scotland and England are already independent in footballing terms. I think you’d have to be pretty sad to cast your vote based on football, but if we decide not to have independence, and then we lose the national football team, then hell mend us,” Husband said.

The long-standing issue of the Scottish independence is to be settled by a referendum on September 18. If the majority of people vote for independence, Scotland will secede from the United Kingdom on March 24, 2016.