NI boss targets Republic's Gibson

[Absinthe]

I have brought this up before, and not in a joking manner, why no uproar about Northern Ireland women playing in the Republic's women team?...is this against FIFA rules?....there are a couple, Laura Hislop of Belfast comes to mind.

I would assume that the rules on eligibility for the womens game would be the same as mens. Therefore this ruling would apply to them to.

I have no interest in womens football, and therefore wouldnt have a clue as to specific cases.

[Absinthe]

Possibly not but the vast majority probably would if given the oppertunity.


Prior to the 2004 rule change, any Northern Irish player would have been Eligible for the Republic of Ireland if they so wished. How do you then explain the vast number of presumably Nationalists that have played for NI down the years?



The fact that they would also play for NI is neither here nor there. A young footballer is not going to turn down international recognition no matter who it's with and all the benefits and exposure it gives his career.

Agreed, not many youngsters would turn down the chance of international careers.

[geysir]

Prior to the 2004 rule change, any Northern Irish player would have been Eligible for the Republic of Ireland if they so wished. How do you then explain the vast number of presumably Nationalists that have played for NI down the years?
So called gentleman's agreement.
We could have done with Pat Jennings though.

[Absinthe]

So called gentleman's agreement.
We could have done with Pat Jennings though.

So you could argue that FAI broke this so called gentlemans agreement, and that is actually how we ended up at FIFA, and its not the bigotry of the IFA? :eek:

Big Pat is an absolute legend. Theres not many international or club sides (Arsenal, doh!) that wouldnt have wanted him!

[Drumcondra 69er]

So you could argue that FAI broke this so called gentlemans agreement, and that is actually how we ended up at FIFA, and its not the bigotry of the IFA? :eek:

Big Pat is an absolute legend. Theres not many international or club sides (Arsenal, doh!) that wouldnt have wanted him!

The original agreement was part of a different era and whether you like it or not over the course of the 80's and early 90's it became more difficult for Nationalists playing for the 6 counties (look at the abuse Lennon got for the obvious example). Plus around the same time we became the more likely of the 2 teams to qualify for major tournaments which would have impacted.

Also, I'm not sure what the rules of eligibility were back at that stage, they've changed considerably over the years with granny rules etc so it may not have been an issue until the rules were expanded to include citizenship which then had no grey area until the Quatar case.

As for Big Pat, I assume you meant 'Tottenham, D'oh'??? ;)

[Ireland4ever]

Absinthe, do you have any opinions on people born in the north representing Rep of Ireland by any chance, if so dont keep them all too yourself!:D:D

[Absinthe]

The original agreement was part of a different era and whether you like it or not over the course of the 80's and early 90's it became more difficult for Nationalists playing for the 6 counties (look at the abuse Lennon got for the obvious example).


They were obviously dark days for Northern Irish football, but we have fortunately left them (hopefully) far behind us.



Plus around the same time we became the more likely of the 2 teams to qualify for major tournaments which would have impacted.


Gloryhunters, besides you had no room in your squad after all the English players you picked! :p



Also, I'm not sure what the rules of eligibility were back at that stage, they've changed considerably over the years with granny rules etc so it may not have been an issue until the rules were expanded to include citizenship which then had no grey area until the Quatar case.


They have, but that is irrelevant in the context of a gentlemans agreement.



As for Big Pat, I assume you meant 'Tottenham, D'oh'???

Yes. D'oh. :o




Absinthe, do you have any opinions on people born in the north representing Rep of Ireland by any chance, if so dont keep them all too yourself!:D


If they are eligible then no. Obviously if they are good enough I would prefer they played for the country of their birth.

However, as I read the FIFA rules, I genuinely dont believe that they are eligible.

[Drumcondra 69er]

[QUOTE=Absinthe;801705]

Gloryhunters, besides you had no room in your squad after all the English players you picked! :p

[QUOTE]

Tounge in check I know but given the total lack of connections of Maik Taylor and other players who've played due to the UK passport issue you're in no position to talk! At least our players did have blood ties (even Casscarino qualified through adoption despite the sales pitch for his book!)

[QUOTE=Absinthe;801705]

They have, but that is irrelevant in the context of a gentlemans agreement.

[QUOTE]

The gentlemans agreement came into place when there were players involved who had been born pre partition, I don't know exactly when the rule regarding parents was first introduced or when it was expanded to include grandparents but the gentlemans agreement had gone out the window a long time back as the 2 FA's had differing views on that aspect (look at Kernaghan for example when the IFA weren't looking at Gendparents to recruit players)

[lopez]

The so called United Kingdom actually now provides Passports peculiar to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland which are different to those issued to English people.No they don't. A British passport is a British passport. The only difference is for certain colonies (Montserrat, etc.) where the passport is slightly different (British Dependecies Passport or something) to prevent these people actually moving to the country they are 'subjects' of.

For those that want the virtual passport to go with their virtual country (not just NI in this category but Wales, Scotland and England IMO) you can get a 'Scottish Passport Holder' leather cover.

http://www.t-army.com/tar_goods.html

http://www.goplanetgo.co.uk/index.php?crn=79&rn=605&action=show_detail

[CollegeTillIDie]

No they don't. A British passport is a British passport. The only difference is for certain colonies (Montserrat, etc.) where the passport is slightly different (British Dependecies Passport or something) to prevent these people actually moving to the country they are 'subjects' of.

For those that want the virtual passport to go with their virtual country (not just NI in this category but Wales, Scotland and England IMO) you can get a 'Scottish Passport Holder' leather cover.

http://www.t-army.com/tar_goods.html

http://www.goplanetgo.co.uk/index.php?crn=79&rn=605&action=show_detail

I have seen these documents my self through my job so I know they exist.
And the Isle of Man and Channel Islands have their own unique British passports too.

[geysir]

but the gentlemans agreement had gone out the window a long time back as the 2 FA's had differing views on that aspect (look at Kernaghan for example when the IFA weren't looking at Gendparents to recruit players)

The IFA blame Brian Kerr for breaking the gentleman's agreement.
Did they not know he was a Dub?

[lopez]

I have seen these documents my self through my job so I know they exist.
And the Isle of Man and Channel Islands have their own unique British passports too.Both the Isle of Man and Channell Islands have a seperate status from the UK than Scotland and Wales. Neither Scotland, Wales or NI have different passports. I'd be interested if you could find an example of these passports or an article where Scotland and Wales being granted their own passports, because this piece of news has passed me by in England.

If you've seen such passports, I'd say they are fakes, because googling 'Scottish passport', or typing into the UK passport website, comes up with nothing. Google does come up with an interesting football discussion where someone enquirers where to get a Scottish passport and a respondent claims to have picked up a fake Scottish passport in Inverary.:D

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=540414

The only sop to the universal British passport is the inclusion of welsh and Scottish (Gallic) translations in the new biometric passports. These will be available in England as much as elsewhere.

http://www.passport.gov.uk/press-archive-2005-02-08.asp

However, Scotland and Wales are part of Britain. Maybe when some teacher-cum-poet organises a blood sacrifice they might get to issue their own passports. Scotland bangs on enough about how much they hate the English, you'd think they'd be queuing up round the block.:rolleyes:

[Drumcondra 69er]

Both the Isle of Man and Channell Islands have a seperate status from the UK than Scotland and Wales. Neither Scotland, Wales or NI have different passports. I'd be interested if you could find an example of these passports or an article where Scotland and Wales being granted their own passports, because this piece of news has passed me by in England.

If you've seen such passports, I'd say they are fakes, because googling 'Scottish passport', or typing into the UK passport website, comes up with nothing. Google does come up with an interesting football discussion where someone enquirers where to get a Scottish passport and a respondent claims to have picked up a fake Scottish passport in Inverary.:D

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=540414

The only sop to the universal British passport is the inclusion of welsh and Scottish (Gallic) translations in the new biometric passports. These will be available in England as much as elsewhere.

http://www.passport.gov.uk/press-archive-2005-02-08.asp

However, Scotland and Wales are part of Britain. Maybe when some teacher-cum-poet organises a blood sacrifice they might get to issue their own passports. Scotland bangs on enough about how much they hate the English, you'd think they'd be queuing up round the block.:rolleyes:

All correct hence why channel islanders etc can pick which of the 4 UK teams they wish to play with as they're not actually from any of them (another peculiar annomally for the UK). Sure didn't Wales try and get Matthew Le Tissier to declare when he wasn't being picked for England.

They don't even issue 'British' passports anymore, they're the EU style with United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on them.

Which is more correct of course as the 6 counties has never actually been part of Britain and never will be short of chopping a landmass off the island of Ireland and attaching it to Scotland or something. A sort of plantation in reverse if you will.....

[Not Brazil]

The bottom line is that the IFA are and willl be always fighting a losing battle. And even if they ever win it, players won't want to play for your team anyway, so it's a lose lose.

And...if they don't want to play, we don't want them.

How many underage players have left the IFA setup to join the FAI setup to date?

Is it still in single figures?

The "Irish Citizens" in the Northern Ireland Under 16 team who defeated the Republic Of Ireland recently must have missed out on your thoughts.:eek:

[Not Brazil]

Slightly off topic but I hope none of this affects the Setanta Cup which we all need to continue to develop.

Well said.

[jmurphyc]

And...if they don't want to play, we don't want them.

How many underage players have left the IFA setup to join the FAI setup to date?

Is it still in single figures?

The "Irish Citizens" in the Northern Ireland Under 16 team who defeated the Republic Of Ireland recently must have missed out on your thoughts.:eek:

You say if they don't want to play you won'tr play them, but clearly this isn't the case. Isn't this whole debate about Darron Gibson? Nigel Worthington and the IFA are trying to force him to declare for them even though he wants to play for us. And what's with the quotations around Irish Citizens. They are Irish Citizens as far as the Good Friday Agreement is concerned and I'd pay much more attention to that than what FIFA make them out to be.

[Not Brazil]

You say if they don't want to play you won'tr play them, but clearly this isn't the case. Isn't this whole debate about Darron Gibson? Nigel Worthington and the IFA are trying to force him to declare for them even though he wants to play for us.

No, that is not what the IFA are trying to do.

As I understand it, Worthington asked Gibson would he like to play for Northern Ireland - given that Gibson is undoubtedly eligible to play for Northern Ireland, that seems pretty normal behaviour to me.

Gibson said "no thanks" - fair dues in my book.

He cannot be "forced" to declare for Northern Ireland - if he doesn't want to play, nobody can make him play.

Let me make this absolutely clear to you.

Regardless of a players' eligibility (or otherwise) to play for another national side, if they don't want to play for Northern Ireland, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DO I WANT THEM TO APPEAR IN A NORTHERN IRELAND SHIRT.

Only players who want to wear the shirt should be in the team.

It's not rocket science.

[jmurphyc]

I didn't make myself clear. When I was saying you I didn't referring to you personally, I meant the Northern Irish management. You said "we", I took that to mean the management.

[CollegeTillIDie]

Lopez

I have actually seen the Wales passport. It's like a British Passport only with an inside page indicating the person is from Wales and I think Wales is there in Welsh into the bargain. I don't know if they are standard issue but the point is they can be got.

[bennocelt]

Derry City are in the Eircom League by consent of both the IFA and FAI and it is blessed by UEFA. This is the same principle by which Berwick Rangers play in Scotland and FC Vaduz from Liechtenstein are permitted to play in the Swiss Second Division.

yeah guys i actually know all this, i was just trying to point out how silly this proposed new FIFa ruling will be

for the unionists to be objective in this case, then wouldnt it mean they would have to seriously question their whole reasoning for been in ireland, history and undertsand the "other" and their love of a united ireland.................ie it is never going to happen

[lopez]

Lopez

I have actually seen the Wales passport. It's like a British Passport only with an inside page indicating the person is from Wales and I think Wales is there in Welsh into the bargain. I don't know if they are standard issue but the point is they can be got.Effectively it's a British passport in a the Welsh language. The person is still British no matter how you dress it up (and the best way to dress it up is to stick this document in a £4.99 pvc holder claiming the passport is indeed of a country that doesn't exist).


Do you want one?Can I have one in my own indigenous tongue, cockney rhyming slang. Aye'd Tom Clancy a crown court with a bit a rabbit and pork inside. :D

And...if they don't want to play, we don't want them.

How many underage players have left the IFA setup to join the FAI setup to date?

Is it still in single figures?

The "Irish Citizens" in the Northern Ireland Under 16 team who defeated the Republic Of Ireland recently must have missed out on your thoughts.LOFL. :D Oh the 'we don't care' argument. Yeah this 'defection' is so small - one senior player since 1950 - that it takes up, what is it now?, over a hudred pages on ourweeminds. Obviously one person wanting a united Ireland, one person considering his capital as Dublin, and his team as NOT the one that stands for an anthem about a German is too much for the IFA.

There is no way that the IFA would waste it's time if it was just down to the pittiless figures of players from the O6C that have represented Ireland at senior level, ones that you claim you don't want anyway. Why bother? Dress it up as much as you like, but this is an ideological fight to prevent people playing for THEIR country and forcing them to play for another country that represents everything they resent. ie. British rule.

As someone has already stated, you should be looking after the players who DO want to play for you, whether they are Catholic, Protestant or those that have just got British citizenship though born overseas, even if their passport is in Welsh, Gallic or Cockney Rhyming Slang.

And nice to see you are happy about the nationalists in your side. A team that probably has a majority of Sinn Fein voters must really p*ss off a chunky section of your support.

As for Absinthe: Cead mille failte, but I think you've drinking too much of it. Try it without the Laudanum in future. I like your equation of Czechoslovakia with Ireland under British rule. :rolleyes: It's like comparing a divorcing couple remaining friends with an escaping sex slave from an abusive husband who took her out of her cage only when he wanted to rape her.

[CollegeTillIDie]

As for Absinthe: Cead mille failte, but I think you've drinking too much of it. Try it without the Laudanum in future. I like your equation of Czechoslovakia with Ireland under British rule. :rolleyes: It's like comparing a divorcing couple remaining friends with an escaping sex slave from an abusive husband who took her out of her cage only when he wanted to rape her.

Czechoslovakia , with the Slovaks ruled more or less by the Czechs, was more like Scotland being ruled by Ireland for a while after being ruled by England for hundreds of years. Slovaks and Czechs have a cultural affinity akin to ours with the Scots.

[Not Brazil]

[B lopez; this is an ideological fight to prevent people playing for THEIR country and forcing them to play for another country that represents everything they resent. ie. British rule.

As someone has already stated, you should be looking after the players who DO want to play for you, whether they are Catholic, Protestant or those that have just got British citizenship though born overseas, even if their passport is in Welsh, Gallic or Cockney Rhyming Slang.

And nice to see you are happy about the nationalists in your side. A team that probably has a majority of Sinn Fein voters must really p*ss off a chunky section of your support.[/B]

What part of "you cannot force a player to play for anybody they don't want to play for" are you struggling with?

This is about clarifying FIFA rules (obviously there is confusion), and making sure they are adhered to.

Who cares what party a player votes for? Who knows what party a player votes for?

Would players playing their club football in England even vote for parties in Ireland? I don't know, and I don't care.

The only thing that matters is that the player WANTS to play for Northern Ireland, and gives the shirt 100%.

If he does, regardless of any other factor, he will receive total support from Northern Ireland fans.

I would have thought that the fact that "nationalists" play for Northern Ireland teams at all age levels must really p*ss off a chunky section of SF's support.

The fact that our representative teams are, always were and always will be "cross community", is something that I cherish.

[co. down green]

I would have thought that the fact that "nationalists" play for Northern Ireland teams at all age levels must really p*ss off a chunky section of SF's support.

Not sure why you single out Sinn Fein, both Nationalist parties in the North are prepared to challenge any attemps by the IFA to block Irish players from representing their country in the future.

The SDLP spokesman on the issue pat Ramsey MLA, is clear about his parties support and has said as much in their letter to FIFA president Sepp latter.

It would seem ludicrous that an Irish citizen born anywhere in the world would have an entitlement to play for the Irish team, but that a citizen from my own city of Derry could not.

The SDLP recognises that unionist people see Northern Ireland as a country and, from their point of view, it makes logical sense for Northern Ireland to have its own team. However, for Irish nationalists, and it is a fact, Northern Ireland is a state rather than a nation or country and therefore its football team is not seen, by Irish nationalists, as a national team. Given the Irish constitution, which formally recognises the Irish citizenship of people born in Northern Ireland, Irish nationalists see the Republic of Ireland team as the national team and many would opt to play for the Republic’s team.

http://oneteaminireland.bravehost.com/259.html

The department of foreign affairs may have a big part to play over the coming months.

[HolylandsMan]

The department of foreign affairs may have a big part to play over the coming months.

Hopefully. Because God knows I don't trust the FAI to deal effectively with this one.

To me, the issue is simple. I live in Co. Armagh. I have one nationality - Irish. I don't have a "complicated identity" or"dual nationality". I am an Irishman with an Irish passport born in Ireland who considers Dublin my capital, the Irish tricolour my flag and Amhrán na bhFiann my national anthem. To force people like me no option but to play for the farcicial entity that is Northern Ireland is nothing short of a disgrace and its up to the FAI and the Irish government to ensure that the choose to be recognised as Irish in all realm of life, including international football, remains open to all those born in Ireland.

[Not Brazil]

Not sure why you single out Sinn Fein, both Nationalist parties in the North are prepared to challenge any attemps by the IFA to block Irish players from representing their country in the future.


It was lopez who singled SF out.

It would be FIFA making decisions on who plays where, not the IFA.

[SuperDave]

Hopefully. Because God knows I don't trust the FAI to deal effectively with this one.

To me, the issue is simple. I live in Co. Armagh. I have one nationality - Irish. I don't have a "complicated identity" or"dual nationality". I am an Irishman with an Irish passport born in Ireland who considers Dublin my capital, the Irish tricolour my flag and Amhrán na bhFiann my national anthem. To force people like me no option but to play for the farcicial entity that is Northern Ireland is nothing short of a disgrace and its up to the FAI and the Irish government to ensure that the choose to be recognised as Irish in all realm of life, including international football, remains open to all those born in Ireland.

but would you not say you were at least happy when david healy scored against spain, or against england. I'm from Co. Tyrone and I know although I am a block booker for the FAI, I still like to see norn iron do well. Just that if I had a choice as a pro footballer I would probably play for the republic, but if I didn't I could live with it. Not saying that is right from a constitutional point of view, but i'm not that twisted that I actively will norn iron to lose.

dermot ahern should write a strongly worded letter to fifa, after getting the legal advice of the attorney general, regarding this breach of our sovereignty. and sepp blatter needs to be made aware that said annex applies to home nations, and ireland was never a home nation, so it shouldn't affect us.

[geysir]

Anybody care to open a book on the FIFA judgement?

Considering that the BBC, the Indo, Belfast Tel and a hundred other media outlets have announced that FIFA have already ruled in favour of the IFA, would anybody care to offer 50/1 that FIFA will not make a change to their interpretation of the rules that allow for example the likes of Alex Bruce and Michael O'Connor to play for Ireland?

[lopez]

What part of "you cannot force a player to play for anybody they don't want to play for" are you struggling with?I'm having a problem with the 'we don't want any player who doesn't want to play with us' line on the one hand, and the fact that you are preventing these players playing for their country, i.e. the one they have ctizenship of although I'd go further and say it was the one they were born in. Because less face it, Northern Ireland isn't a country is it? I mean are you trying to say that what is the six counties is a country in the sense that the vast majority of the world would consider it?

If any player didn't want to play for Ireland I'd say good luck. Even if he was born in Ireland. Trouble is you just can't let go. And don't give me this FIFA rulling b*llocks. It's the IFA that have dragged this up. FIFA were happy to let things stand previously at what they were. Pretty sad really for, what is by your own admission, so far just one player.

[kingdomkerry]

What i want to know is are the fai going to stand up for the rights of irish people in the six counties so they can choose to play for ireland if they wish to do so.

Even if it means court??

[youngirish]

The fact that our representative teams are, always were and always will be "cross community", is something that I cherish.
Northern Ireland. A team with GSTQ as the national anthem. That uses a St George's cross as a flag. Has a history of accomodating a hardline secterian element amongst it's fans. This is a team that you state is, always was and always will be representative of the "cross community".

C'mon Not Brazil. Is this statement for real or a wind-up? I suppose the Nazis were representative of a "cross community" political party also were they? Don't be ridiculous.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Northern Ireland. A team with GSTQ as the national anthem? That uses a St George's cross as a flag. Has a history of accomodating a hardline secterian element amongst it's fans. This is a team that you state is, always was and always will be representative of the "cross community".

C'mon Not Brazil. Is this statement for real or a wind-up? I suppose the Nazis were representative of a "cross community" political party also were they? Don't be ridiculous.

Someones Wumming here alright.:rolleyes:

[youngirish]

Someones Wumming here alright.:rolleyes:

Yeah I'm wumming okay. Sorry Lionel I stand corrected the Northern Ireland football team has and always will be equally representative of both the Nationalist and Unionist peoples of the province. It's an all inclusive organisation that spreads peace and love to all and makes the world a better place to live in.

If you love the North and their fans so much (and I can tell you do from your numerous postings on these matters) why don't you go and support them instead of posting your unique brand of misguided PC blandness on these forums.

Yawn. Never, ever Lionel form an opinion that might offend a group of people no matter how in the wrong they are. That would be a bad thing.

[gustavo]

Yeah I'm wumming okay. Sorry Lionel I stand corrected the Northern Ireland football team has and always will be equally representative of both the Nationalist and Unionist peoples of the province. It's an all inclusive organisation that spreads peace and love to all and makes the world a better place to live in.

If you love the North and their fans so much (and I can tell you do from your numerous postings on these matters) why don't you go and support them instead of posting your unique brand of misguided PC blandness on these forums.

Yawn. Never, ever Lionel form an opinion that might offend a group of people no matter how in the wrong they are. That would be a bad thing.
What I'm guessing Not Brazil meant is that teams from NI have generally been made up of players from both sides of the community but I suppose you decided to twist what he meant in order to have a cheap dig.

[paul_oshea]

What I'm guessing Not Brazil meant is that teams from NI have generally been made up of players from both sides of the community but I suppose you decided to twist what he meant in order to have a cheap dig.

Yes thats what he meant, even if it were eyes half closed....

[Not Brazil]

What I'm guessing Not Brazil meant is that teams from NI have generally been made up of players from both sides of the community but I suppose you decided to twist what he meant in order to have a cheap dig.

I thought I was quite clear in what I said.

"The fact that our representative teams are, always were and always will be "cross community", is something that I cherish"

It's a mere statement of fact.

[Not Brazil]

Yawn. Never, ever Lionel form an opinion that might offend a group of people no matter how in the wrong they are. That would be a bad thing.

Had you a particular "group of people" in mind, and would you care to point out what you mean by "wrong"?

[Blanchflower]

To me, the issue is simple. I live in Co. Armagh. I have one nationality - Irish. I don't have a "complicated identity" or"dual nationality". I am an Irishman with an Irish passport born in Ireland who considers Dublin my capital, the Irish tricolour my flag and Amhrán na bhFiann my national anthem.
Well, congratulations, but your "considerations" are unlikely to be at the forefront of FIFA's rule-makers' thinking. Regardless of your considerations, Co. Armagh is in Northern Ireland, not the Republic.



To force people like me no option but to play for the farcicial entity that is Northern Ireland is nothing short of a disgrace and its up to the FAI and the Irish government to ensure that the choose to be recognised as Irish in all realm of life, including international football, remains open to all those born in Ireland.
Not being eligible to play professional football for the ROI does not mean you aren't Irish!


I'm having a problem with the 'we don't want any player who doesn't want to play with us' line on the one hand, and the fact that you are preventing these players playing for their country, i.e. the one they have ctizenship of although I'd go further and say it was the one they were born in. Because less face it, Northern Ireland isn't a country is it? I mean are you trying to say that what is the six counties is a country in the sense that the vast majority of the world would consider it?
Well, it's a country for the purposes of international football, which is what we're talking about! And it's a bit of a stretch to claim that someone born in NI was actually born in ROI!


What i want to know is are the fai going to stand up for the rights of irish people in the six counties so they can choose to play for ireland if they wish to do so.

Even if it means court??

What rights?

What court? On what grounds?

[SuperDave]

can you believe this thread has made 1000 posts?

[geysir]

Well, congratulations, but your "considerations" are unlikely to be at the forefront of FIFA's rule-makers' thinking. Regardless of your considerations, Co. Armagh is in Northern Ireland, not the Republic.
No shít, we have a smug map reader who has a turn at reading FIFA minds.
FIFA's rules on eligibility are very player's rights orientated. They have been quite happy to allow Bruce and O'Connor declare for Ireland. FIFA's legal department were fully satisfied that the FIFA rules were being fully complied with.
The FIFA legal department were fully satisfied that a NI born Irish citizen was 100% Irish and entitled to play for Ireland.
In October 2006 FIFA Legal head confirmed this.
What's your point? The IFA have appealed for the 2nd or 3rd time. We are waiting for the decision.

[Absinthe]

wow. Is gibson really that big a deal? >_>

No he isnt. This is about the future.

Would you be happy if for example Scotland, claimed that it was entitled to pick anyone who was born in the Republic of Ireland because they all support Celtic?

[Absinthe]

No shít, we have a smug map reader who has a turn at reading FIFA minds.
FIFA's rules on eligibility are very player's rights orientated. They have been quite happy to allow Bruce and O'Connor declare for Ireland. FIFA's legal department were fully satisfied that the FIFA rules were being fully complied with.
The FIFA legal department were fully satisfied that a NI born Irish citizen was 100% Irish and entitled to play for Ireland.
In October 2006 FIFA Legal head confirmed this.
What's your point? The IFA have appealed for the 2nd or 3rd time. We are waiting for the decision.

Im happy to wait for the ruling, and I am still very confident that the ruling will be in the IFA's favour.

The key post that swings it, was the guy explaining that he considered himself Irish and only Irish. That is his right, as is enshrined in the GFA. Legally however, he is entitled to Dual Citizenship, and is therefore British & Irish by default as there is nothing to stop him claiming citizenship.

In a FIFA context he is eligible from birth, for 2 or more countries, and therefore the additional annexe (grandmother or residence) should apply.

[Blanchflower]

No shít, we have a smug map reader who has a turn at reading FIFA minds.
FIFA's rules on eligibility are very player's rights orientated. They have been quite happy to allow Bruce and O'Connor declare for Ireland. FIFA's legal department were fully satisfied that the FIFA rules were being fully complied with.
The FIFA legal department were fully satisfied that a NI born Irish citizen was 100% Irish and entitled to play for Ireland.
In October 2006 FIFA Legal head confirmed this.
What's your point? The IFA have appealed for the 2nd or 3rd time. We are waiting for the decision.

Um, my point is that the considerations of a random person in Co. Armagh is unlikely to weigh heavily in the minds of FIFA's rule-makers. Wasn't that clear?

If FIFA does rule that people in NI are eligible to play for the South (as I think they will) it won't be because of our Co. Armagh friend's feelings.

And our Co. Armagh friend's feelings do not alter the fact that Co. Armagh is in Northern Ireland, and, if he was born there, then he was not born in the Republic, which is what he claimed.

[Blanchflower]

In a FIFA context he is eligible from birth, for 2 or more countries, and therefore the additional annexe (grandmother or residence) should apply.

That annex only applies if your nationality (singular) qualifies you for more than one country (e.g. British qualifies for England, Scotland, NI, Wales; Danish for Faroes and Denmark, etc.)

The likes of Gibson has dual nationality, which is different.

[Absinthe]

That annex only applies if your nationality (singular) qualifies you for more than one country (e.g. British qualifies for England, Scotland, NI, Wales; Danish for Faroes and Denmark, etc.)

The likes of Gibson has dual nationality, which is different.

But, if FIFA rule that an Irish Passport is enough to represent the ROI, then their Nationality would qualify them to play for two countries. As an Irish passport is also enough to play for Northern Ireland. As in, you dont need a British passport to play for Northern Ireland. (This is already a rule).

[paul_oshea]

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Ireland under-23 manager Pat Fenlon has become the first boss to fall foul of UEFA's blocking of Northern players representing the Republic.

Fenlon wanted to bring Ruairdhi Higgins into his squad to play Slovakia next month.

However, UEFA refused to sanction the move as the Derry City midfielder has no connections with the Republic.



From breakingnews

[Absinthe]

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Ireland under-23 manager Pat Fenlon has become the first boss to fall foul of UEFA's blocking of Northern players representing the Republic.

Fenlon wanted to bring Ruairdhi Higgins into his squad to play Slovakia next month.

However, UEFA refused to sanction the move as the Derry City midfielder has no connections with the Republic.



From breakingnews

Im still waiting for the ruling though. Maybe he doesnt have an Irish Passport for example, i.e. he could be a special case.

Although as mentioned before I am confident this will be the ruling that is made. And I am extremely confident the FAI will not be able to overturn the decision through any method. i.e. the courts, or political lobbying

[as_i_say]

I'd say a lad who is called Ruaidhri instead of Rory is going to love belting out GSTQ at Barbara Windsor park alright.

Absolute farce these lads not being able to play for us.

[Blanchflower]

But, if FIFA rule that an Irish Passport is enough to represent the ROI, then their Nationality would qualify them to play for two countries. As an Irish passport is also enough to play for Northern Ireland. As in, you dont need a British passport to play for Northern Ireland. (This is already a rule).

An ROI passport isn't enough to play for NI. You have to be a UK citizen to play for NI. (You may also be an ROI citizen, and therefore have an ROI passport, but that is irrelevant in terms of eligibility.) FIFA, though, has allowed NI players to use ROI passports as a means of identification.



I'd say a lad who is called Ruaidhri instead of Rory is going to love belting out GSTQ at Barbara Windsor park alright.

Absolute farce these lads not being able to play for us.


Surely more of a farce for people with no connection to the Republic to be playing for the Republic, than for people born and bred in NI to be playing from NI?

[co. down green]

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Ireland under-23 manager Pat Fenlon has become the first boss to fall foul of UEFA's blocking of Northern players representing the Republic.

Fenlon wanted to bring Ruairdhi Higgins into his squad to play Slovakia next month.

However, UEFA refused to sanction the move as the Derry City midfielder has no connections with the Republic.



From breakingnews


Not so sure about this, Kevin Deery is in the squad.

Kevin is a born & bred Derry lad who has represented Ireland at u19, u21 & at 'b' international level.