NI boss targets Republic's Gibson

[stiofain]

can you believe this thread has made 1000 posts?

Surely i'm entilted to a prize for starting it?

[paul_oshea]

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.

Loads of Deerys from inishowen and stuff all round that way, so perhaps a chance parents and grandparents from Donegal.

[jmurphyc]

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?

This has been said numerous times and it's really ****ing me off. You're just saying idiotic things like this to rouse people. These people with no 'connection' to the Republic are nationalists. FIFA currently feels they do have a connection with the Republic so that completely nullifies your argument. Even if FIFA were to rule otherwise, the Good Friday Agreement also states otherwise, and I'd pay much more attention to these than to you.

[osarusan]

what it boils down to is that an Irishman wants to play football for Ireland. It is a breach of a person's human rights to stop them doing so - and try arguing against that. It's not what you want or what you people think, it's about the individual's beliefs.
According to Uefa (apparently), he's Northern Irish, not from the Republic.

He is fully free to play for Northern Ireland, should he wish to.

It's not a breach of human rights to stop somebody from playing for a country they are not allowed to play for (which may or may not be the case).

It is not about the individuals beliefs, it is about Uefa's rules as long as they dont contravene any laws (which they might).

[Absinthe]

If this is true . . . and if I was Higgins, I would be getting myself the finest lawyer in the land. UEFA don't have a leg to stand on. And for all the whinging from other people on here what it boils down to is that an Irishman wants to play football for Ireland. It is a breach of a person's human rights to stop them doing so - and try arguing against that. It's not what you want or what you people think, it's about the individual's beliefs.

Why dont UEFA have a leg to stand on? I think they understand the law considerably better than you do. And again, there is virtually nothing a court can do.



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.


I would hazard a guess that he has played at U21 Level and is now over 21? This would ensure that he was absolutely tied to the Republic. Also, I wouldnt think the rules will be applied retrospectively, so as long as he played in a 'official' (i.e. qualifying match) for the U21's he would also be tied to the ROI.

Im guessing Harkin, has not played for the ROI U21's at that level, so therefore wouldnt be bound.

[Absinthe]

This has been said numerous times and it's really ****ing me off. You're just saying idiotic things like this to rouse people. These people with no 'connection' to the Republic are nationalists. FIFA currently feels they do have a connection with the Republic so that completely nullifies your argument. Even if FIFA were to rule otherwise, the Good Friday Agreement also states otherwise, and I'd pay much more attention to these than to you.

Get back to us in a few days on that one. UEFA will be making this ruling based on what FIFA will have told them.

FIFA arent one of the signatories of the Good Friday Agreement. So they arent bound by it.

[jmurphyc]

Get back to us in a few days on that one. UEFA will be making this ruling based on what FIFA will have told them.

FIFA arent one of the signatories of the Good Friday Agreement. So they arent bound by it.

I never said FIFA were bound to the Good Friday Agreement. All I'm saying is that whatever happens in the next while I would still pay much more attention to the GFA than to what FIFA decide.

[Absinthe]

I never said FIFA were bound to the Good Friday Agreement. All I'm saying is that whatever happens in the next while I would still pay much more attention to the GFA than to what FIFA decide.

Thats very good. The GFA doesnt govern world football. ;)

p.s. This ruling doesnt mean you can pick and indeed play people from Northern Ireland. What it does mean is that if you do, you will lose the game 3-0.

[Cymro]

If this is true . . . and if I was Higgins, I would be getting myself the finest lawyer in the land. UEFA don't have a leg to stand on. And for all the whinging from other people on here what it boils down to is that an Irishman wants to play football for Ireland. It is a breach of a person's human rights to stop them doing so - and try arguing against that. It's not what you want or what you people think, it's about the individual's beliefs.

Can't you see how ridiculous that is? By those standards English people with no connections could start declaring for Mozambique tomorrow. Or how about a Brazilian guy declaring for Saudi Arabia? Ridiculous, of course, but if an 'individual's beliefs' (and for that read: I want to get international football on my CV) dictated things then you'd have loads of those scenarios.

Of course, I'm not doubting there are some Northern Irish-born players who genuinely do want to play for the Republic. But they have no legal right in football terms (Ireland is a complicated anomaly, usually you can't have the passport from another country unless you've served a term of residency, or been born there and spent your childhood there) so allowing these players to play for the ROI would set a dangerous precedent. And the above scenario something I passionately don't want to see.

The whole point of international football is that you play for a country with which you have genuine family ties or in which you were born. Under your ridiculously selfish ideals we could well have plenty of Welsh players declaring for England in future because of their 'beliefs' i.e. playing for England will get me into more tournaments, so stuff the fact I've no ties there whatsoever, I'll play for them over my true country!

The point is, the Republic of Ireland shouldn't get special treatment just because of a political ruling that has absolutely nothing to do with football. As Absinthe's just pointed out, the Good Friday Agreement is an entirely political agreement between two governments which has no relevance whatsoever to football.

Personally I think Northern Ireland are getting well and truely screwed over by this rule and it's high time FIFA stepped in and put an end to this loophole.

[jmurphyc]

Thats very good. The GFA doesnt govern world football. ;)

p.s. This ruling doesnt mean you can pick and indeed play people from Northern Ireland. What it does mean is that if you do, you will lose the game 3-0.

Did you honestly think that's what I'm trying to say? All I'm saying is that FIFA is a FOOTBALL organisation, so whatever happens I personally (and a lot of other people) will value the GFA over FIFA's ruling in regards to whether someone has the right to be Irish.

As for the 2nd paragraph, I didn't realise that FIFA had ruled yet so why are you talking about what may or may not happen.

[Cymro]

You've got a cheek Cymro! Wales capped Eastwood purely on the basis that his grandad's caravan had passed through Llanelli once!!!

Actually Eastwood's grandfather was born in Llanelli, and thus Freddie actually legally qualifies for us.

If he'd have turned up for us on the basis that his grandfather's caravan had passed through Llanelli once, I'd have been equally in outrage at the ridiculous precedent that it would set.

But as it is Eastwood is legally allowed to play for Wales, even if I highly doubt he cares that much about his Welsh background.

[youngirish]

having spent virtually years in court for the past decade.

You just can't stay away from those primary schools can you Tuff Paddy?

[paul_oshea]

Does anyone find it strange, ironic, a paradox and funny what the article says though "as the Derry City midfielder has no connections with the Republic." ......

.....reading that, and going along the lines that Derry City are able to play in the League of Ireland, in someway does that not constitute "living in the republic?"( in a naive sort of way ) in the eyes of UEFA given the fact they are playing in an ROI league....


You just can't stay away from those primary schools can you Tuff Paddy?


LOL, :D

[Cymro]

Did you honestly think that's what I'm trying to say? All I'm saying is that FIFA is a FOOTBALL organisation, so whatever happens I personally (and a lot of other people) will value the GFA over FIFA's ruling in regards to whether someone has the right to be Irish.


That is your opinion. The point is that FIFA make the rules for international football, not world governments, therefore the GFA is not a valid reason for Northern Irish born players who wouldn't qualify for say Australia because all their parents and grandparents were born in NI to qualify for the Republic of Ireland just because they feel Irish and have the right to an Irish passport.


Had he even been to Wales before he was capped? You're failing to grasp the complexities of a unique situation here. I can understand why some NI fans don't want to understand it, but I would have thought you would have seen the bigger picture at play here.

I know he's been to Wales several times because he's played at the Liberty Stadium for Southend on quite a few occasions. Then there's Cardiff's Wrexham's and probably Newport's grounds too (he did play for Grays in the Conference South) ;)

That's irrelevant though. Eastwood still has a legal right to play for us in accordance with FIFA eligibility rules. Normally, Ruaidhri Higgins wouldn't have a right to play for Ireland under FIFA eligibility rules. So why should a document that has no relevance to football change that?

I am trying to see the bigger picture here. Think how many top players NI could be screwed out of if this rule were allowed to stay in place. Potentially, we're talking nearly 40% of their entire pool, if every Northern Irishman who idenitifies as 'Nationalist' decided to take that route. That isn't right. Surely a much better compromise would be for FIFA, the IFA and representatives of the players (who wish to declare for the ROI) to meet and discuss a way that those players could feel proud of whatever national identity they follow and still play for Northern Ireland. Perhaps playing a 'neutral' anthem before Northern Ireland games or whatever. It doesn't matter, just please not this ridiculous rule. It is completely irrational and smacks of FIFA making concessions for one country.

[paul_oshea]

It is completely irrational and smacks of FIFA making concessions for one country.


At least you got one part right..

[jmurphyc]

I am trying to see the bigger picture here. Think how many top players NI could be screwed out of if this rule were allowed to stay in place. Potentially, we're talking nearly 40% of their entire pool, if every Northern Irishman who idenitifies as 'Nationalist' decided to take that route. That isn't right. Surely a much better compromise would be for FIFA, the IFA and representatives of the players (who wish to declare for the ROI) to meet and discuss a way that those players could feel proud of whatever national identity they follow and still play for Northern Ireland. Perhaps playing a 'neutral' anthem before Northern Ireland games or whatever. It doesn't matter, just please not this ridiculous rule. It is completely irrational and smacks of FIFA making concessions for one country.

Cymro, I understand what you're trying to say, but for starters the flag would also have to be changed for some (not all) nationalists to be 'happy' playing for NI. Secondly, some nationalists would never want to play for NI purely because they don't see it as their country (and some wouldn't even see it as a country at all).

[Dodge]

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

He does have an Irish passport. Its his first call up to an Irish side, unlike Deery (who the IFA had no problme with apparently)

I bet at least 100 posts on this thread are about the same 3/4 points, over and over again

[Wolfie]

.................. the same 3/4 points, over and over again

..................into infinity.........................

[osarusan]

I am trying to see the bigger picture here. Think how many top players NI could be screwed out of if this rule were allowed to stay in place. Potentially, we're talking nearly 40% of their entire pool, if every Northern Irishman who idenitifies as 'Nationalist' decided to take that route. That isn't right.

To be fair Cymro, the potential damage a ruling would do to one of Uefa's members is not in itself a reason not to make that ruling.

Uefa will have to decide if the GFA will have any bearing on their rules. People say they are not bound by the GFA, but are we sure about that? Either way, they're obviously considering the ruling carefully, I'm sure, considering the GFA and European law.

[Maroon 7]

That's irrelevant though. Eastwood still has a legal right to play for us in accordance with FIFA eligibility rules. Normally, Ruaidhri Higgins wouldn't have a right to play for Ireland under FIFA eligibility rules. So why should a document that has no relevance to football change that?

That's why people are saying that the rules are a nonsense when Eastwood (not very Welsh at all) is deemed eligible for Wales when Ruaidhri Higgins (as Irish as anyone else on the island) isn't eligible for Ireland.

[paul_oshea]

Uefa will have to decide if the GFA will have any bearing on their rules. People say they are not bound by the GFA, but are we sure about that? Either way, they're obviously considering the ruling carefully, I'm sure, considering the GFA and European law.

Exactly, why else have a Legal department and lawyers working on this, and previouslly having their lawyers in their legal department send on letters to the FAI and IFA from before. Peopel who think they dont take into account such agreements and legal statutes are naive, football on an international scale is all to do with politics.

[Cymro]

That's why people are saying that the rules are a nonsense when Eastwood (not very Welsh at all) is deemed eligible for Wales when Ruaidhri Higgins (as Irish as anyone else on the island) isn't eligible for Ireland.

But how do you define when someone genuinely wants to compete for a nation (which I'm not denying Higgins does) and when they are taking advantage of the slack proposed eligibility rules to play international football for a team they really do have no connection to simply to boost their career?

The current laws aren't perfect, but I think they're a decent compromise. They ensure that heritage gets its role within eligibility whilst still maintaining a measure of order so we don't have random Brazilians declaring for Saudi Arabia, something that could feasibly be forced through in the future if this loophole (which would be cited as a precedent) were allowed to stand.


To be fair Cymro, the potential damage a ruling would do to one of Uefa's members is not in itself a reason not to make that ruling.

Uefa will have to decide if the GFA will have any bearing on their rules. People say they are not bound by the GFA, but are we sure about that? Either way, they're obviously considering the ruling carefully, I'm sure, considering the GFA and European law.

They are probably considering it because they don't want to be the target of a backlash from Northern Irish nationalists and the players' representatives. Though personally, I think they're on a hiding to nothing as the IFA will undoubtedly fight any ruling that adversely affects them.


Cymro, I understand what you're trying to say, but for starters the flag would also have to be changed for some (not all) nationalists to be 'happy' playing for NI. Secondly, some nationalists would never want to play for NI purely because they don't see it as their country (and some wouldn't even see it as a country at all).

If the flag would have to be changed it would need to be something neutral. I've no problem with the idea and think it would certainly be preferable to the legal loophole that exists at present.

As for the 'NI isn't a country' chestnut. Footballing and political definitions of a nation aren't the same. Greenland, as well as plenty of areas under Chinese political influence, such as Macau or Hong Kong, wouldn't be considered political states, as, equally, would Northern Ireland, and Wales, Scotland and England not be. However, in terms of football, all of the above are considered national teams. This status is given to them by FIFA. So for the purposes of this debate they are countries.


Cymro, so you agree that 40% of the population of the six counties would be robbed of their right to play for Ireland as well presumably?

No, my point is why should they have a right if they weren't born there, or qualify through a parent or grandparent?

Also, for God's sake try and stop being so biased. There is no national team named Ireland, and I think you can be grown-up enough to call Northern Ireland by its actual name rather than referring to it as 'the six counties'.



.....reading that, and going along the lines that Derry City are able to play in the League of Ireland, in someway does that not constitute "living in the republic?"( in a naive sort of way ) in the eyes of UEFA given the fact they are playing in an ROI league....

Swansea City have been playing in the English league for over 125 years, so I must be English! :rolleyes:

[geysir]

Also, for God's sake try and stop being so biased. There is no national team named Ireland
Biased? :)
You are in the Ireland forum. Just because NI have a team doesn´t mean we can´t tell the difference.

[Blanchflower]

If this is true . . . and if I was Higgins, I would be getting myself the finest lawyer in the land. UEFA don't have a leg to stand on. And for all the whinging from other people on here what it boils down to is that an Irishman wants to play football for Ireland. It is a breach of a person's human rights to stop them doing so - and try arguing against that. It's not what you want or what you people think, it's about the individual's beliefs.

What law would your lawyer use to make his case?

And are you using the term "Ireland" deliberately? You do know that the team in question is merely the Republic of Ireland? Amd the player in question is from Northern Ireland?

[Cymro]

Biased? :)
You are in the Ireland forum. Just because NI have a team doesn´t mean we can´t tell the difference.

Show me the national team named Ireland. There's a national team named Northern Ireland, and one named the Republic of Ireland, but none known as Ireland. ;)

That post was just showing up Tuff Paddy's blatant bias in discussing the issue, anyway. If someone were to refer to the ROI as 'Ireland' under normal circumstances I wouldn't take issue. But the post history of TP in this thread combined with the 'six counties' thing just drew a reaction out of me.

[Not Brazil]

And are you using the term "Ireland" deliberately? You do know that the team in question is merely the Republic of Ireland? Amd the player in question is from Northern Ireland?

I wonder has young Ruairdhi ever played international football before?

I'd be curious to know who for, and which country (ies) he played against.;)

[Blanchflower]

This has been said numerous times and it's really ****ing me off. You're just saying idiotic things like this to rouse people. These people with no 'connection' to the Republic are nationalists. FIFA currently feels they do have a connection with the Republic so that completely nullifies your argument. Even if FIFA were to rule otherwise, the Good Friday Agreement also states otherwise, and I'd pay much more attention to these than to you.

Their political opinions are irrelevant. If they weren't born there, don't live there and don't even have parents or grandparents, then they don't have connections. The GFA doesn't alter that.

[Blanchflower]

I never said FIFA were bound to the Good Friday Agreement. All I'm saying is that whatever happens in the next while I would still pay much more attention to the GFA than to what FIFA decide.

You'd pay more attention to the GFA than to the decision of the body that actually makes the rules?

Odd.

[Blanchflower]

Did you honestly think that's what I'm trying to say? All I'm saying is that FIFA is a FOOTBALL organisation, so whatever happens I personally (and a lot of other people) will value the GFA over FIFA's ruling in regards to whether someone has the right to be Irish.



FIFA won't be ruling on whether someone has the right to be Irish. They'll be ruling on which of the Irish teams, Irish players are eligible to play for.

[kingdomkerry]

What law would your lawyer use to make his case?

And are you using the term "Ireland" deliberately? You do know that the team in question is merely the Republic of Ireland? Amd the player in question is from Northern Ireland?

This is an Ireland forum everyone calls our team "Ireland". Many people fail to recognise "Northern Ireland" due to it being formed by a manufactured majority and a regieme that oppressed/ is opressing our nation for eight hundred years. Hence many call it "The North/The North East/ The six counties" or anything as long as its not "Northern Ireland" If you cant accept this why not post on "Are-we-a-Country".

On the issue of the topic. It is an obvious breech of human rights preventing players play for their country. I cant for the life of me understand why the IFA cant concentrate on player who actually want to play for their plastic team and state!

[Not Brazil]

[INDENT]
This is an Ireland forum everyone calls our team "Ireland". Many people fail to recognise "Northern Ireland" due to it being formed by a manufactured majority and a regieme that oppressed/ is opressing our nation for eight hundred years. Hence many call it "The North/The North East/ The six counties" or anything as long as its not "Northern Ireland" If you cant accept this why not post on "Are-we-a-Country".


Classic stuff. The kind of "rhetoric" that creases me every time.

:D

Although, now we're getting to the REAL crux of the issue.;)

[Maroon 7]

Also, for God's sake try and stop being so biased. There is no national team named Ireland



People generally call the ROI national team Ireland. Sometimes they might say ROI but usually the Irish national team is just called plain old Ireland. Something I don't feel anyone has to apologise about. You'll never find two auld fellas in a pub discussing the Republic of Ireland game but you probably would find them discussing the Ireland game.

What anyone else wants to call themselves is their business but to us our team is just Ireland (and occasionally ROI).

[SuperDave]

Their political opinions are irrelevant. If they weren't born there, don't live there and don't even have parents or grandparents, then they don't have connections. The GFA doesn't alter that.

where do fifa stand if those people have grandparents born before 1922, anywhere on the island? cos surely in that situation, they were governed from dublin and the team as constituted then represented the whole island. is it possible that a limited number of yound players could still get away with this?

[Maroon 7]

Surely richly ironic that one of the main arguments against this is that young nationalists "have no connection whatsoever to the Irish nation" despite the fact that they are citizens of said nation. From birth no less.

Surely a Month Python sketch in there somewhere.:D

[Drumcondra 69er]

where do fifa stand if those people have grandparents born before 1922, anywhere on the island? cos surely in that situation, they were governed from dublin and the team as constituted then represented the whole island. is it possible that a limited number of young players could still get away with this?

Yeah, that wouldn't be a problem, doubt that'd cover many kids born in the late 80's and early 90's though and that's who this concerns really, maybe a small few.

[geysir]

FIFA won't be ruling on whether someone has the right to be Irish. They'll be ruling on which of the Irish teams, Irish players are eligible to play for.
With reference to the citizenship status of the players.
Naturalization, citizenship by birth, quality of citizenship etc are issues which enter the criteria for decision.

[tricky_colour]

This thread is a joke, Northern Ireland is Ireland as far as eligibility for football
goes.

53 pages on the non-issue of the century :rolleyes:

[lopez]

Can't you see how ridiculous that is? By those standards English people with no connections could start declaring for Mozambique tomorrow...LOL. A Welshman lecturing us on people with no connections declaring for other countries. In a 'footballing' sense, how did those players declare for Wales in the past with no Welsh connections? Don't know their names off hand, but the black bloke who played against in 1991 at Wrexham for starters. I know NI have picked a few non connected, but in the 90s you went completely overboard.

You just can't stay away from those primary schools can you Tuff Paddy?No that's me. My present parole status prevents me from joining ourweeminds, due to the large ammount of children on it. :D


Show me the national team named Ireland. There's a national team named Northern Ireland, and one named the Republic of Ireland, but none known as Ireland.What? Do you 'Republic of France' or the 'Republic of South Africa'. When you get your independence, you can come back and lecture us on sovereignty, citizenship and international agreements. :cool:

[shaneker]

Classic stuff. The kind of "rhetoric" that creases me every time.

:D

Although, now we're getting to the REAL crux of the issue.;)

Quite frankly, with the sheer amount of "rhetoric" posted by a significant number of people on your website (and don't give me the 'there's always one or two bad eggs etc' argument, I'm a member on your forum and its a fair bit more than that) I don't think you're in any position to be judgmental.

[kingdomkerry]

Ive looked at that site alot just to get an alternative perspective on things, anyone who gives an alternative view is patronised, and it is so anti Irish it is incredible!:mad:

[osarusan]

On the issue of the topic. It is an obvious breech of human rights preventing players play for their country. I cant for the life of me understand why the IFA cant concentrate on player who actually want to play for their plastic team and state!


How f**king stupid are some people?

Ruadhri Higgins is Northern Irish, not from the Republic.

In footballing terms, as well as political terms, Ireland and Northern Ireland are different entities. Yes it is an unusual relationship, but they are not the same thing.

Whether a Northern Irish footballer thinks he is best represented by Northern Ireland, the Republic, or anywhere else is not the issue. The issue is Uefa deciding whether these players are eligible or not.

Wanting something to be true doesn't make it true.



Ive looked at that site alot just to get an alternative perspective on things, anyone who gives an alternative view is patronised, and it is so anti Irish it is incredible!
Cant you see how ignorantly hypocritical this comments is, when you consider this one-

I cant for the life of me understand why the IFA cant concentrate on player who actually want to play for their plastic team and state!

[DmanDmythDledge]

He does have an Irish passport. Its his first call up to an Irish side, unlike Deery (who the IFA had no problme with apparently)
Not the case, he has one cap for Northern Ireland U-21. He would have had to have changed his mind before he turned 21 to be able to play for the Republic.

[SuperDave]

Yeah, that wouldn't be a problem, doubt that'd cover many kids born in the late 80's and early 90's though and that's who this concerns really, maybe a small few.

the only country in the world where your eligibility turns not on the fact you've had nationality since birth, but when your granny was born?

brilliant.

anyway, as neil lennon has shown, northern ireland fans will support catholic players as long as they aren't "too catholic", and keep quiet about it. i can understand why catholic players don't want to play for a team whose fans have made a life out of trying to drive them out of their homes. it's one of the main reasons why i'm unable to support northern ireland. i wish i was proud of the team, but the fact that there are so many bigots in the crowd and the ifa seem to be doing to little to try to counteract the attitude (and it would be a big ****king start if they confiscated union jacks and other symbols of britishness, not to mention the national anthem) means i find it impossible.

[osarusan]

Here's a post by Ealing Green on the 2nd September, which still rings true -

People can choose to support whoever they like, but they can't always choose who they may play for - there are eligibility criteria laid down by FIFA.

This is what people seem to fail to realise - Fifa/Uefa are the only ones who will decide if Gibson and others in a similar situation.

Whether the player wants to play for Northern Ireland or not, whether they feel they are not represented by GSTQ and the respective flag,whether they "feel" Irish or not........related to this issue, these things are not relevant.

Fifa/Uefa may decide that it should be a right of all citizens to play for their country, or they may decide that citizenship alone will not allow all citizens to play for that country unless they meet other criteria.

If the decision they make breaks a law which overrides it, the decision will surely be appealed to that higher law.

If not, the decision will stand.

[Blanchflower]

This is an Ireland forum everyone calls our team "Ireland". Many people fail to recognise "Northern Ireland" due to it being formed by a manufactured majority and a regieme that oppressed/ is opressing our nation for eight hundred years. Hence many call it "The North/The North East/ The six counties" or anything as long as its not "Northern Ireland" If you cant accept this why not post on "Are-we-a-Country".



You seem rather bitter. But it seems that you do know the team is merely Republic of Ireland, even though you call it "Ireland".




On the issue of the topic. It is an obvious breech of human rights preventing players play for their country. I cant for the life of me understand why the IFA cant concentrate on player who actually want to play for their plastic team and state!


An obvious breach of human rights? My goodness. Which human right is being breached? This sounds serious!:eek:

[Blanchflower]

Surely richly ironic that one of the main arguments against this is that young nationalists "have no connection whatsoever to the Irish nation" despite the fact that they are citizens of said nation. From birth no less.

Surely a Month Python sketch in there somewhere.:D

I haven't seen anyone make that argument. People have referred, though, to players having no connection to the South, i.e. not born there, not lived there, no parent or grandparent born there.


With reference to the citizenship status of the players.
Naturalization, citizenship by birth, quality of citizenship etc are issues which enter the criteria for decision.
Obviously. But - as I said - they won't be ruling on any "right to be Irish"!

[Absinthe]

That's why people are saying that the rules are a nonsense when Eastwood (not very Welsh at all) is deemed eligible for Wales when Ruaidhri Higgins (as Irish as anyone else on the island) isn't eligible for Ireland.

Looks like he has an under 21 cap for Northern Ireland.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruaidhri_Higgins

Also, for all of the rhetoric on this site, it was against the RoI U21's. How could he play against his own country, that he has always dreamed of representing?

Also, this Ireland you speak of, is a political aspiration. It does not exist in footballing terms. There is the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland. As I have said before, you dont have to like it, agree with it, acknowledge it, but its a real Country. Will it always be? Who knows. But at the moment it is. Why dont you try reading all of the GFA, instead of quoting the paragraph you're all so keen on. It mentions Northern Ireland quite a lot.

And yes, Ruaidhri is Irish. So am I, and im very proud to be so. Still doenst make me eligible for the Republic of Ireland football team.

[Not Brazil]

i can understand why catholic players don't want to play for a team whose fans have made a life out of trying to drive them out of their homes. it's one of the main reasons why i'm unable to support northern ireland.

Can you expand on this Dave?

[Absinthe]

Why dont UEFA have a leg to stand on? I think they understand the law considerably better than you do. And again, there is virtually nothing a court can do.

I think you'll find I have a far superior grasp of law than you do pal, having studied it to degree level and having spent virtually years in court for the past decade.

I didnt say me, I said they as in Uefa's Legal team. I hope you're not a court researcher..... :p

[Absinthe]

Ive looked at that site alot just to get an alternative perspective on things, anyone who gives an alternative view is patronised, and it is so anti Irish it is incredible!:mad:

As opposed to this bastian of enlightened thinking, where half the posters won't even type "Northern Ireland".