Eligibility proposal

[eelmonster]

Or eel.


Or Eal.

[eirebhoy]

12:48 11Dec2007 RTRS-Soccer-FIFA executive committee to assess goal-line trial

By Mark Ledsom
BERNE, Switzerland, Dec 11 (Reuters) - The use of technology in deciding goal-line debates will be back on the agenda this weekend when FIFA's executive committee meets to assess trials being carried out at the Club World Cup in Tokyo.
In a statement released on Tuesday, world soccer's governing body said "the latest results and conclusions regarding goal-line technology will be one of the main topics" of Saturday's meeting in the Japanese capital.
The executive committee meeting, taking place the day before the Club World Cup final, will also reconsider controversial proposals to ban international football matches at high altitude stadiums.
FIFA introduced a ban on matches played more than 2,500 metres above sea level in May but lifted the ruling a month later following strong protests in South America and a visit to FIFA headquarters by Bolivian president Evo Morales.
The executive committee is now set to look at the matter as part of a more wide-ranging debate on football being played in all form of extreme conditions, basing its decisions on a report drawn up at a medical experts' conference in Zurich last month.

FIFA's top body is also due to discuss a proposal by its legal department aimed at resolving an eligibility row between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland football associations.
The proposal, which would allow players from across the island to freely choose which national team they play for, has been strongly criticised by the Northern Irish association who argue that the best young players from the north will be tempted south if the plan is adopted.

[kingdomkerry]

Lets hope the common sense proposal adopted by FIFA is confirmed and we can get on with getting Ireland to the world cup.

[LeviathanNI]

Lets hope the common sense proposal adopted by FIFA is confirmed and we can get on with getting Ireland to the world cup.

Aye, and obviously you can't do it with your own players, so you want to nick ours as well..:rolleyes:

[Cowboy]

Aye, and obviously you can't do it with your own players, so you want to nick ours as well..:rolleyes:

Nobody's nicked any players they came of their own free will.

[eirebhoy]

Aye, and obviously you can't do it with your own players, so you want to nick ours as well..:rolleyes:
This is the 41st page of the 2nd big thread on this topic. A post like yours above would probably fit right at the very beginning.

[NeilMcD]

Aye, and obviously you can't do it with your own players, so you want to nick ours as well..:rolleyes:



Well you obviosly cant do with your own forum and you have to use ours as well. !!!!:)

[kingdomkerry]

Aye, and obviously you can't do it with your own players, so you want to nick ours as well..:rolleyes:

Name any one of your players we've "nicked"?

[EalingGreen]

Lets hope the common sense proposal adopted by FIFA is confirmed and we can get on with getting Ireland to the world cup.

Is it worth the bother? After all, the last time we got hammered by France and Argentina and embarrassed by Georgia and Namibia...:eek:

Unless you mean cricket? :confused:

[shaneker]

From FIFA's media release today:

'The Executive Committee decided to leave the current regulations regarding the eligibility of players to represent association teams unchanged.'

Does this mean we won?

[Lionel Ritchie]

From FIFA's media release today:

'The Executive Committee decided to leave the current regulations regarding the eligibility of players to represent association teams unchanged.'


As no rule or regulation change was proposed I'd say this allows NI born players to play for ROI. Probably not the end of it mind ...they've kicked to touch.

[geysir]

It would appear that the current regulations which allow players born in the 32 counties to choose the Republic will remain unchanged.
The compromise was not deemed worthy by the FIFA legal dept, (due to lack of consensus, IFA and FAI ?) so the Executive board decided not to add the compromise into the statutes.
FIFA would not impose a compromise unless both Federations were agreeable.

[HolylandsMan]

'The Executive Committee decided to leave the current regulations regarding the eligibility of players to represent association teams unchanged.

So they bottled making a decision basically.

Probably business as usual then so. Since the precedent has been set with Gibson, referred to FIFA who then took no action, I think we can we take it that players from the North are free to play for Ireland.

[geysir]

So they bottled making a decision basically.
No bottling at all. The statutes are already decisivly fixed.
It appears that the statutes always favoured the players.

It is FIFA practice to allow associations to make an agreement. FIFA proposed an agreement but the 2 associations failed to support the agreement 100%.
So there is nothing to decide upon. An easy afternoons work for the executive committee and FIFA can say "well we tried".

[co. down green]

http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2733


The Football Association of Ireland welcomes the decision of FIFA’s Executive Committee to leave the current regulations regarding the eligibility of players to represent association teams unchanged.

An FAI spokesman said: “In October 2006, FIFA’s Legal Department ruled that players born in Northern Ireland are entitled to play for the Republic of Ireland if they choose.

“Following today’s Executive Committee meeting, senior FIFA sources have confirmed to us that the status quo remains and the FAI may continue to select players born in Northern Ireland who declare that they wish to play for the Republic of Ireland.”

[Maroon 7]

Earlier, the Northern Ireland governing body, the IFA, claimed victory in the row between the two Irish associations.However an FAI statement said that it "welcomed" Fifa's decision."Senior Fifa sources have confirmed to us that the status quo remains and the FAI may continue to select players born in Northern Ireland," added the FAI.An FAI spokesman added: "In October 2006, Fifa's Legal Department ruled that players born in Northern Ireland are entitled to play for the Republic of Ireland if they choose."Saturday's brief, one sentence statement from Fifa on the controversy said that current rules were being left "unchanged".The Irish FA said that it was interpreting that as Fifa abandoning a proposal to allow Northern Ireland-born players to play the Republic of Ireland."I was always quietly confident. Fifa is just upholding its own rules," said IFA president Raymond Kennedy, prior to the FAI statement.Last month, the IFA was angered by Fifa's legal department's proposal that players born in Northern Ireland should be allowed to play for the Republic.The FAI has consistently argued that Fifa rules does give them the right to field Northern Ireland-born players.And with Fifa regulations unchanged after Saturday's decision, the Republic of Ireland association's stance is unaltered.On-loan Wolves midfielder Darron Gibson recently played for the Republic in a Euro 2008 qualifier.He was born in Derry in Northern Ireland but elected to switch to the Republic after representing the north at Under-16 level.Northern Ireland's political parties have got involved in the controversy and the Republic of Ireland's Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern also said that Northern Ireland-born players should be allowed to play for the Republic, if they wished.Unionist politicians claimed that Fifa rules allowing Northern Ireland-born players to play for the Republic could "sectarianise" the Northern Ireland team.

[Poor Student]

How can both sides leave thinking the opposite decision has been made? The Northern Irish paper Sunday Life is trumpeting a victory for the IFA.:confused:

[Paddy Garcia]

How can both sides leave thinking the opposite decision has been made? The Northern Irish paper Sunday Life is trumpeting a victory for the IFA.:confused:

If the statement from Co Down Green is correct then the decision is clear.

and the FAI may continue to select players born in Northern Ireland who declare that they wish to play for the Republic of Ireland.”

Denial is not a new phenomenon for our Northern neighbours.

If they are concerned about sectarianising the team then perhaps they could make a start with their supporters. Then sell the benefits of playing for them to players from the 6 counties rather than using handcuffs.

[eirebhoy]

This is crazy.

IFA claims victory in player row (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7146278.stm)
FAI claims victory in player row (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7146420.stm)

:D

[Stuttgart88]

It's a bit like in boxing when both fighters throw their hands up claiming victory in advance of a points decision. Only one ever looks convincing though.

[amaccann]

Ted, I'm hugely confused.

[lopez]

Ted, I'm hugely confused.I can see why.

However, if nothing has changed then the FAI can carry on picking players from the North - providing they have Irish citizenship. Nothing happened to the FAI over Gibson, e.g. no points deducted for the Slovakia game.

In fact FIFA offered the IFA a carrot to leave the matter alone, and they turned it down. No doubt they'll be back whinging when the next player from Derry, Belfast etc. is picked for us, but for now let the w*nkers think they've won.

[eirebhoy]

The Irish FA will have to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if it wants to continue its row with the FAI over player eligibility.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7147228.stm

[RogerMilla]

right now thats cleared up and the IFA have won the eligibility battle , who do we pick next from up there ? anyone good on the horizon ?

[kingdomkerry]

So its official. The IFA claiming to have won! Pathetic!!

"Unionist politicians claimed that Fifa rules allowing Northern Ireland-born players to play for the Republic could "sectarianise" the Northern Ireland team".:D:D:D

[Stuttgart88]

So, as I understand it: ROI has been allowed by FIFA to field-Northern born players that do not meet the usual criteria (birth, parents' / grandparents' birth, residence). That was the case before all the fuss was made over Gibson. Recently they suggested a cociliatory or compromise "it can go both ways": NI can select ROI-born players in the same way.

Now FIFA says that no change is warranted, meaning ROI can pick NI born players but NI can not pick ROI born players. So NI wins, how?

I think we should now step it up a level: select players already capped at senior level for NI but before it was clarified that such players could have played for ROI!

[Not Brazil]

I think we should now step it up a level: select players already capped at senior level for NI but before it was clarified that such players could have played for ROI!

:D

You maybe need to re-read the rules.

[Newryrep]

It is my rudimentry understanding in that

1. Gibson is eligible as indeed any northern born player is as he falls under the dual nationality remit and thus can chose who he plays for and can switch once before the age of 21.

2. The 4 No criteria brought in wrt Qatar are for players changing nationalities - since anybody born in the North has an automatic right to Irish citizenship and has always been there is no question of them changing nationalities.

3. The GFA has sweet FA to do with it. Automatic Irish citzenship before GFA, automatic citzenship after GFA - no change, it is a red herring

4. FAI argued that the current rules should apply (dual nationality), IFA argued that the Qatar criteria be applied as it is changing nationalities

5. The IFA have argued that you can be Irish and British or both and play for NI - where does the changing nationalities come into it that they are arguing - How is Darren Gibson changing nationalities

[Blanchflower]

1. Gibson is eligible as indeed any northern born player is as he falls under the dual nationality remit and thus can chose who he plays for and can switch once before the age of 21.

Correct.



2. The 4 No criteria brought in wrt Qatar are for players changing nationalities - since anybody born in the North has an automatic right to Irish citizenship and has always been there is no question of them changing nationalities.

The 4 criteria also apply in respect of players whose nationality entitles them to play for >1 team. This is the bit that confused the IFA, who thought this applied to dual nationality - but it doesn't: it applies to a players whose single nationality qualifies them for more than one team.



3. The GFA has sweet FA to do with it. Automatic Irish citzenship before GFA, automatic citzenship after GFA - no change, it is a red herring

100% correct. Emotive red herring introduced by nationalists.



4. FAI argued that the current rules should apply (dual nationality), IFA argued that the Qatar criteria be applied as it is changing nationalities

Second part wrong - see my response to 2 above.



5. The IFA have argued that you can be Irish and British or both and play for NI - where does the changing nationalities come into it that they are arguing - How is Darren Gibson changing nationalities
They're not arguing about changing nationalities. See my response to 2 above.

[kingdomkerry]

So bottom line. Ireland have a 32 county pick. Those who want to play for Ireland are welcome. Those that want to play with the north can bugger off!

[Blanchflower]

Now FIFA says that no change is warranted, meaning ROI can pick NI born players but NI can not pick ROI born players. So NI wins, how?


It doesn't.

[Blanchflower]

So bottom line. Ireland have a 32 county pick.

No. Republic of Ireland has a 32 county pick.

[kingdomkerry]

Nobody says "Republic of" and nobody should as the team represents 32 counties as clairified by FIFA ;)

[Not Brazil]

So bottom line. Ireland have a 32 county pick. Those who want to play for Ireland are welcome. Those that want to play with the north can bugger off!

That's basically the height of it.

The Republic Of Ireland have a 32 County pick, within the relevant rules laid down by FIFA ie. Article 15.

From a Northern Ireland perspective, I will be happy to see players who are not totally committed to playing for Northern Ireland "bugger off".

I don't expect to see too many players defect to the Republic Of Ireland teams.

Since this dispute arose, we've actually gained two back.

[ifk101]

No. Republic of Ireland has a 32 county pick.

:D:D:D

Here we go again ....

[Not Brazil]

Nobody says "Republic of" and nobody should as the team represents 32 counties as clairified by FIFA ;)

Ask them what your team is called.;)

[ifk101]

I don't expect to see too many players defect to the Republic Of Ireland teams.

Since this dispute arose, we've actually gained two back.

Neither do I. Northern Ireland produces 1 or 2 players every generation that might get their game with Ireland. Those two boys that went back to Northern Ireland realised this - they knew there're not good enough to get a game with the Irish A team.

[Blanchflower]

Nobody says "Republic of"

That's simply untrue.


and nobody should as the team represents 32 counties as clairified by FIFA
It doesn't.

[Blanchflower]

Neither do I. Northern Ireland produces 1 or 2 players every generation that might get their game with Ireland.

Ireland? Do you mean Republic of Ireland?

[ifk101]

Ireland? Do you mean Republic of Ireland?

How did you find you way to this forum?

[Not Brazil]

Neither do I. Northern Ireland produces 1 or 2 players every generation that might get their game with Ireland. Those two boys that went back to Northern Ireland realised this - they knew there're not good enough to get a game with the Irish A team.

The broad point being that professional footballers will put football before politics.

Players will elect to play for the team they feel will give them the best opportunity to progress their career on the international stage.

[kingdomkerry]

That's simply untrue.


It doesn't.

It does. The Irish team are represented by 32 counties and 4 provinces. This is seen in support for the team and player representation. Darren Gibson is from derry you know?

[ifk101]

The broad point being that professional footballers will put football before politics.

Players will elect to play for the team they feel will give them the best opportunity to progress their career on the international stage.

Totally agree. Players born in Northern Ireland will chose to play for Ireland if they are good enough as a cap for Ireland will add more value to their club paycheck than a Northern Ireland cap. If they are not good enough for the Irish team they'll chose to play for Northern Ireland as an international cap is better than no cap when it comes to negotiating club wages.

[Newryrep]

Correct.


The 4 criteria also apply in respect of players whose nationality entitles them to play for >1 team. This is the bit that confused the IFA, who thought this applied to dual nationality - but it doesn't: it applies to a players whose single nationality qualifies them for more than one team.

They're not arguing about changing nationalities. See my response to 2 above.

Thanks for the replies, bit clearer now, IFA are holding a beaten docket but dont want to rip it up.

[Not Brazil]

Totally agree. Players born in Northern Ireland will chose to play for Ireland if they are good enough as a cap for Ireland will add more value to their club paycheck than a Northern Ireland cap. If they are not good enough for the Irish team they'll chose to play for Northern Ireland as an international cap is better than no cap when it comes to negotiating club wages.

You forgot that some players who would be good enough to play for the Republic Of Ireland, will continue to play for Northern Ireland.

That's because they're proud to play for Northern Ireland.

[ifk101]

You forgot that some players who would be good enough to play for the Ireland, will continue to play for Northern Ireland.

That's because they're proud to play for Northern Ireland.

Of course - that shouldn't be ruled out.

[lopez]

You forgot that some players who would be good enough to play for the Republic Of Ireland, will continue to play for Northern Ireland.

That's because they're proud to play for Northern Ireland.Just as some players born in England or Scotland would always pick Ireland over the country of their birth.

This team we call Ireland - you can call it what you like (beggars, tinkers, mexicans, thieves, Fenians, Taigs) - doesn't represent the 32 counties but it does represent 32 county Irish nationalists. In footballing terms you'll lose a hadnfull of players a decade, of which you will no doubt get some back when they weigh up their options before 21. In terms of respect for people's choice of nationality in Ireland, this news is excellent, with the exception that once more Irish unionists have turned their back on their brethren across the border.

[kingdomkerry]

I think the amount they loose will depend on the amount of players from a nationalist background who would be good enough to play for Ireland? As the norths player pool is halved, this will eventually lead to an All Ireland team which is what i guess about 80% of the people want.

[Blanchflower]

It does. The Irish team are represented by 32 counties and 4 provinces. This is seen in support for the team and player representation. Darren Gibson is from derry you know?

The ROI team isn't "represented by" anyone. It does, however, represent (unsurprisingly), the ROI. The fact that they can pick players from NI doesn't alter the fact that it is an ROI team.

[Blanchflower]

If they are not good enough for the Irish team they'll chose to play for Northern Ireland as an international cap is better than no cap when it comes to negotiating club wages.

That doesn't make sense. There are two Irish teams.