Eligibility proposal

[backstothewall]

Once DC were promoted they decided to cut the league to twelve (allegedly) in the hope DC wouldn't finish high enough to stay in. This will be based on on and off the field criteria, in the knowledge that DC will struggle as they have only recently been promoted to the Premier League

http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=595823.html

[LeviathanNI]

The reason they are a B team is because they have been consistently performing below ROI since 1987, recent times excluded, and that was with us at our lowest ebb, and NI flying

And who are these top class players?? Of the NI side the only player i would start in an all ireland 11 is George McCartney, and Healy would make the bench. (although the way Robbie is playing)

All this at out lowest ebb

They are a no mark team, who have achieved little or nothing of note since Pat Jennings picked the 3rd out on his 41st birthday. It was only a few years ago i heard Alan Greene, who is from Belfast (even if he is an arse), include them with Andorra, Malta and San Marino as countries he didn't think should even be allowed to play qualifiers for major tournaments.

If the FAI market this decision right NI can be marginalized and middle class unionists can be enticed to Croke Park to see Ireland play Brazil. They already flock down to the 6 nations

If the FAI want to play this right, The should always now refer to themselves as Ireland, adopt Irelands call as the anthem, announce plans to play in Belfast at some point, and appoint a northerner as new manager.

To quote a movie...



And for the record i'm not really worried about offending the IFA or their fans. They have attempted to deny me my birth right. I don't see what could be considered offensive though. It is only a mater of time before a talented Protestant Irishman from the north declares for the FAI because he gets a greater chance to play on the greatest stage of all. And once one does dozens more will follow.

the biggest obstacle to this is the hangers on who don't want the gravy being split more ways


No offence mate, but you would be better off concentrating on trying to poach our 'Nationalist' players, for the rest is just a pipe dream.. there will never be a United Ireland team under the Irish tricolour in Dublin.. the same way some Nationalist players feel they can't play for us, there is no way we would go down there and support that. You will never get a Northern Ireland supporter to feel like that about the Republic of Ireland. Never. Remember, we have been to hell and back already with our National team, and will gladly do so again, because at least they are ours, and represent us. Nothing to do with sectarianism, or any particular 'hate' for the Republic.. it is just that you are you and we are we :)


Of course.. if you wanted to 'unsplit' and rejoin us, we would welcome you back with open arms ;):D though to be fair, you would be just swapping one set of inadequate suits for another..

[cavan_fan]

I increasingly am irritated by this decision, as someone said above (was it EG?) this sounds like a bright idea from some Swiss bureaucrat who knew nothing about Ireland. It reminds me of the story of Mickey Rourke going to NI and being stunned that there were people there that wanted to be part of Britain (he thought it was an all nationalist community with the British army in occupation).

In reality there is now no difference between the 2 Irish teams (with the possible exception of 2G players). What we'll end up with is a unionist team (NI) and a nationalist one (ROI). I'd like FIFA to explain whether this is a precedent. Would they have done this if 10% of the population of NI felt themselves Irish? Are they going to allow Germany and France to share a common player pool on the basis of 'Germans' in Alsace?

The logical thing to do was to say, there is something unusual about this situation so players born in NI can decide once and once only before the age of 18 that they wish to declare for the ROI. Once they have played for any underage NI team they are not eligible for the ROI.

[shaneker]

OWC is absolutely insane at the moment. By far the worst I've ever seen it, including that NI speak English, sing GSTQ and have the queen's money 'Full Stop', as well as saying that previously the member supported anti-sectarianism but now he doesn't care if they fly a King Billy flag over Windsor, and none of the mods or patrons are saying one word to anyone except the ROI lads, and then for such sectarian obscenities as 'The English, Scottish and Welsh FA's won't get involved because it doesn't concern them' - which was threatened with a ban from the site!

Prior to this proposal they were in the main just staying on the right side of 'passionate' without going overboard but now they're riled all the true feelings on the issue really come out.

And they wonder why our boys don't want to play for them?? Well played FIFA.

[kingdomkerry]

I increasingly am irritated by this decision, as someone said above (was it EG?) this sounds like a bright idea from some Swiss bureaucrat who knew nothing about Ireland. It reminds me of the story of Mickey Rourke going to NI and being stunned that there were people there that wanted to be part of Britain (he thought it was an all nationalist community with the British army in occupation).

In reality there is now no difference between the 2 Irish teams (with the possible exception of 2G players). What we'll end up with is a unionist team (NI) and a nationalist one (ROI). I'd like FIFA to explain whether this is a precedent. Would they have done this if 10% of the population of NI felt themselves Irish? Are they going to allow Germany and France to share a common player pool on the basis of 'Germans' in Alsace?

The logical thing to do was to say, there is something unusual about this situation so players born in NI can decide once and once only before the age of 18 that they wish to declare for the ROI. Once they have played for any underage NI team they are not eligible for the ROI.

This is about protecting the rights of Irish people in the north so they can play for their country.

If that means one team of nationalist and one team of unionists then it is the IFAs fault for holding the rest (80%) back who want an all ireland team.

As long as Ireland can pick from the 32 counties im happy!!

[LeviathanNI]

Once DC were promoted they decided to cut the league to twelve (allegedly) in the hope DC wouldn't finish high enough to stay in. This will be based on on and off the field criteria, in the knowledge that DC will struggle as they have only recently been promoted to the Premier League

http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=595823.html


It isn't 'allegedly' at all, it is complete ******...you obviously don't know about the whole DC situation, but needless to say, they will be in the new league.. as long as they sort out their ground, or at least start to do what they said they were gonna do over two years ago.

There are reasons we are trying to sort out the league.. mostly it is to try and hit the smaller 'a pitch with a wee wall and no support' teams, and make them aim higher.

[kingdomkerry]

I saw that they are banning ireland fans left right and centre for offering a differnent opinion. Sad!


OWC is absolutely insane at the moment. By far the worst I've ever seen it, including that NI speak English, sing GSTQ and have the queen's money 'Full Stop', as well as saying that previously the member supported anti-sectarianism but now he doesn't care if they fly a King Billy flag over Windsor, and none of the mods or patrons are saying one word to anyone except the ROI lads, and then for such sectarian obscenities as 'The English, Scottish and Welsh FA's won't get involved because it doesn't concern them' - which was threatened with a ban from the site!

Prior to this proposal they were in the main just staying on the right side of 'passionate' without going overboard but now they're riled all the true feelings on the issue really come out.

And they wonder why our boys don't want to play for them?? Well played FIFA.

[LeviathanNI]

I haven't been on OWC, but are you sure you are right about them being banned? Northern Ireland supporters are rightly incensed that we can't rely on the ability to pick players from our own very small player pool.. I'm raging myself.. especially as I thought we had crossed that invisable barrier. Now, I'm not saying for one second I thought all young Nationalists all of a sudden thought that NI was all hunky dory.. but I though that political baggage had been left behind. Obviously not.

[gustavo]

I saw that they are banning ireland fans left right and centre for offering a differnent opinion. Sad!

At least they can get registered!
I tried to register using the same username that I use here and the registration was never validated , I emailed the admin on the site and I got no reply , that was a few months ago now!

[kingdomkerry]

At least they can get registered!
I tried to register using the same username that I use here and the registration was never validated , I emailed the admin on the site and I got no reply , that was a few months ago now!

Just register with a different name. You cant even view the boards unless you are registered. Ive got banned twice the second time i said nothing inflamatory and the first time i just told it as it is.

Anyway looks like you cant get in to it now there are so many people on it!

[shaneker]

I haven't been on OWC, but are you sure you are right about them being banned? Northern Ireland supporters are rightly incensed that we can't rely on the ability to pick players from our own very small player pool.. I'm raging myself.. especially as I thought we had crossed that invisable barrier. Now, I'm not saying for one second I thought all young Nationalists all of a sudden thought that NI was all hunky dory.. but I though that political baggage had been left behind. Obviously not.

First of all, not being admin, I can't speak if they have actually been banned, but yes the threats are flying out for absolutely nothing inflammatory - stating opinions on that site that differ from their norm is clearly unacceptable.

If that site is (as I believe, although I do stand to be corrected on this) the biggest NI supporters site and is supposed to be a decent representation of your support, then you have about a million more years before 'that political baggage' is a thing of the past and you can genuinely claim to be supporters of a 'cross-community team' that OWC continually claims it is. I make no secret of my disgust with a very large number of posts on that site - compared to here, it really is sickening.

[geysir]

Are they going to allow Germany and France to share a common player pool on the basis of 'Germans' in Alsace?
As Alsace is not a country, you can't compare.
But let's pretend we could with a divided Germany,
with little Communist East Germany and big Democratic West Germany.
If West Germany gave automatic citizenship to all born in East Germany then an East German footballer could declare for West Germany according to Article 15 of the FIFA statutes without satisfying annex criteria.
Then say FIFA stepped in after East Germany objected and FIFA said that that was okay but a West German could also declare for East Germany if he so wished.
Not so bizzarre.

[backstothewall]

No offence mate, but you would be better off concentrating on trying to poach our 'Nationalist' players, for the rest is just a pipe dream.. there will never be a United Ireland team under the Irish tricolour in Dublin.. the same way some Nationalist players feel they can't play for us, there is no way we would go down there and support that. You will never get a Northern Ireland supporter to feel like that about the Republic of Ireland. Never. Remember, we have been to hell and back already with our National team, and will gladly do so again, because at least they are ours, and represent us. Nothing to do with sectarianism, or any particular 'hate' for the Republic.. it is just that you are you and we are we :)


Of course.. if you wanted to 'unsplit' and rejoin us, we would welcome you back with open arms ;):D though to be fair, you would be just swapping one set of inadequate suits for another..

"Our" nationalist players? I know unionism has had a pretty shabby record over the years over civil rights, but even i conceed slavery never happened. Irish nationalists are people, and if born in Ireland with the right to be considered Irish under international law. You do not have and have never had any right over anyone who doesn't want to play for "Ireland B".

And Northern Ireland have indeed come out of hell recently. Were you one of the 7916 souls there on 03/04/03 to see them play a European Championship qualifier against Greece?? Will there be any more there when your that bad again?? Thats gonna look prety bad in a 40,000 seat stadium?? Will that many people want to go to Lisburn??

In the end the players will decide, and when Northern Ireland are playing in front of 7000 in the maze, what choice will a talented Protestant kid from Antrim or Bangor make, when he is living with another lad from Tallaght and one from Cork in digs in England?? 50,000 in a bright shiny Dublin stadium, or a three quarters empty one in Lisburn?

I would suggest yesterdays ruling means there is now in fact a United Ireland team under the Irish tricolour in Dublin. There is another United Ireland team playing under a ba5tardised Ulster flag in Belfast. For the record i would suggest the FAI consider a new neutral flag as well to welcome unionists to Croke Park, and to further undermine the IFA's team and organisation.

The next step for the FAI is not to make the few thousand hardcore Northern Ireland fans feel for the Republic of Ireland what they do for NI, its to welcome the tens of tousands of decent unionists who were sickened by the Lennon affair, and are sickened by the secterianism of Irish League football to a friendly neutral Croke Park and Lansdowne, as many of them have been doing for years to watch the Rugby.

If you are happy to "have us back" wheres the issue. Merge the two organisations and lets go back to being Ireland and end all this cr*p. The alternative for the IFA is an irrelevant team playing in front of a paltry few thousand billy boys in a white elephant stadium in the middle of nowhere.

[lopez]

I would just love to get a look on that site. It must be going f*cking radio rental at the moment. :D:D:D.

Lionel Richie, do us a favour mate, take your tongue out of their arses and show us some of the quotes of week. I need cheering up badly.

[shaneker]

What are the rules on quoting from another site? I won't quote anything if there are rules against it but if its okay, I will post some choice selections from OWC.

[geysir]

There are no rules, go ahead. I´ll laugh myself to sleep.
This is almost as good as a gammy last minute winner at landsdowne.

[backstothewall]

That they brought it on themselves makes it all the funnier. Windsor House has managed to do what the best spin doctors money can buy failed to do last week, make Merrion Square look almost competent

[shaneker]

Right so, then! The ourweecountry.co.uk 'Best of the Best!'

The first thing to add is that there has been an absolute deluge of posters hinting at political interference on this. I think we should be worried - if they find out about the bugs that SF, FF and the IRA have on FIFA HQ, we could really struggle to pull this off again next time. They're onto us, boys...

Also, the number of ROI fans being threatened with bans is huge; in 165 pages of thread on this issue, I have not seen one post threatening to ban anyone who sided with NI's viewpoint, no matter what bile they came out with.

Finally, absolutely ANY opinion from a ROI fan is met with the term 'bigotry', and I do mean ANYTHING. We are all bigots, every one of us, for not supporting the NI point of view. So there.

This (from a ROI fan)...

'You people really think that the world revolves around OWC, don't you?
Do you really think that anyone in England, Scotland or Wales gives a toss about this? I think you'll find that the answer is no and neither do their respective Football Associations.
I think you'll find that the other 3 home nations don't care about this about this and certainly won't get involved.'

(there was more to this post, but it was all to the point and in no way inflammatory or offensive, but since this is a long post I didn't want to use more space than was necessary. If anyone wants the message posted in full, just ask)

was followed with this...

'Yet another bigot crawling out of the woodwork to gloat.... The players you are referring to that are not good enough to play for England, Scotland or Wales have already been selected to play for the Republic.... '

as well as...

'I predict a bigot... ' (both quoted in full, no qualification)

also there are these...

'I actually attended a ROI away match, as I happened to be in the area, with a few friends.....
Not only was it extremly anti-northern, singing "Billy Bingham is wxnker.", but pro IRA songs were song as well.....' (having been to far more away games than home games, I can confidently state this is 100% ********)

'just knew the bullsh*t was coming theyll all be gloating on the other side of their hypocritical bigotted faces whenever this proposal is rejected out of hand for the madness and political claptrap that it is the bigots will stoop to the lowest gutter levels to achieve their superficial political aims'

'Ive always supported all the anti sectarianism stuff but now I don’t give a F##K if we fly a King Billy flag over Windsor. Strange that these great Nationalist players all play in the great enemies English league and take their money with the Queens head on it.'(my personal favorite)

'Play them?? I wouldn't p*ss on these c*nts if they were on fire'

'The one post that I really admired on this topic - "At least if our team is comprised mainly of unionists we can go back to not hiding our Britishness by bringing union flags and bringing back the songs that represent us" At last - an honest comment from a true NI fan' (although this was hit with a smart one-liner along the lines of 'you're talking to yourself' from a Patron, no threat of a ban!)

also this - possibly the finest display of hypocrisy in internet history:

'Vote on BBC NI - Should soccer players born in Northern Ireland be allowed to opt to play for the Republic of Ireland.
Yes - all together now
61.48%
No - Norn Iron only
38.52%

257 Votes Cast

Results are indicative and may not reflect public opinion

If you want to vote more than once just delete your BBC cookie'

followed swiftly by this...

'The BBC poll count, there is definate vote rigging/mass voting going on.'; (absolutely - your forum just told NI fans how to do it - but still seems like you're losing)

This forum is a sick hotbed of racism, and the few intelligent posters on there seem to be making 0% effort to shut up those who see it as a forum for nationalist/ROI hatemail. Each and every man and woman in charge of it should be ashamed of themselves.

EDIT - all of the above comes from the past 36 hours of posting. There are 165 pages on this thread on OWC, going back to October 13, 2006.

[eelmonster]

Vote early, vote often - beggars of the world unite:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/default.stm

[osarusan]

[INDENT]
Ive got banned twice the second time i said nothing inflamatory and the first time i just told it as it is.


Really?

Here's a quote from Fear Beag, a member of footie, who was also on OWC.

Kingdom Kerry. No offence intended, but you were way our of your depth over there. Granted, you made a few valid points but you wrote some really stupid things as well.

And here's your reply.

I was only trying to rise them. I had my fun.

[geysir]

Kingdomkerry was out of line but that was ages ago.


'Vote on BBC NI - Should soccer players born in Northern Ireland be allowed to opt to play for the Republic of Ireland.
Yes - all together now
61.48%
No - Norn Iron only
38.52%

257 Votes Cast
Results are indicative and may not reflect public opinion
If you want to vote more than once just delete your BBC cookie'

Thats hilarious, I´ve just checked with an all together vote of course

64% yes 3340 votes cast. :D
Those owc ers must be seeing the ghosts of dead republicans everywhere, now it´s the BBC has fallen foul of the Fenian conspiracy.

[kingdom hoop]

Cheers for that Shane, hard to know whether to laugh or cry, frown is probably best.:( I'd agree with your favourite, what a retard. You know, for once I actually feel sorry for Ealing Green, gives a decent impression but then the we see some of the 'real fans'. Shame on the mods there too for leaving that kind of skulduggery go on unabated, says a lot about the general attitudes of our fellow islanders. :(

[FarBeag]

Its all kicking off over there allright. A bit scary to say the least. what about this Imbecile's viewpoint!!

QUOTE (danclancy @ Nov 7 2007, 11:24 PM)
I'll give it a go but personally I dont think it will make a blind bit of difference. FIFA were never going to overrule the Belfast Agreement?

At least if our team is comprised mainly of unionists we can go back to not hiding our Britishness by bringing union flags and bringing back the songs that represent us.

[shaneker]

Whilst he may annoy me, Ealing Green is one of the few posters who genuinely seems to base his arguments on his interpretation of the FIFA statues; whilst we would largely disagree with his interpretation, he deserves credit for not allowing his political beliefs to infringe on his arguments on that site.

Wow, praising EG on foot.ie. I feel wierd.

[shaneker]

Its all kicking off over there allright. A bit scary to say the least. what about this Imbecile's viewpoint!!

QUOTE (danclancy @ Nov 7 2007, 11:24 PM)
I'll give it a go but personally I dont think it will make a blind bit of difference. FIFA were never going to overrule the Belfast Agreement?

At least if our team is comprised mainly of unionists we can go back to not hiding our Britishness by bringing union flags and bringing back the songs that represent us.

If you are the same AFB as on OWC, I admire your restraint. The way they have patronised and pedantically picked at every word you have said on that thread is so bloody irritating. The guy that had a go at you because you didn't include a 'sarcasm smiley' - classic!

[kingdom hoop]

Wow, praising EG on foot.ie. I feel wierd.

Same here, many is the time he's exasperated me, but when you see the bile spouted by his (our?!) compatriots you do begin to appreciate his relative level-headedness. Then again, I suppose he wouldn't last a day here unless he was that way!

I wonder if it's because OWC is a private forum that the mods don't see the need to delete rancid posts and warn posters, or wait, no, it's probably because it would only be Ealing Green and one or two others left if they did, in which case we can welcome them down here. :p

If there're any more corkers lash them up please Shane, I like the psycho-analytical challenge they represent!

[shaneker]

I'll keep my eyes peeled...until they figure out who I am (I don't use the same username) and ban me, of course!

[Not Brazil]

If you were only interested in those that want to play for you, FIFA's decision means nothing. In fact it might increase the players that want to play for you. This statement of yours is pathetic. 'I'm not interested in players who don't want to play for NI. I just don't want them playing for anyone else if they're not interested in NI.' Pretty sad IMO.

If you can post where I have stated that I don't want players not wanting to play for Northern Ireland not playing for anyone else, I will gladly engage you.

Until then, please desist from misrepresenting my views on this issue.

ie. stop making things up.

[RogerMilla]

lads surely it is better not to have enything to do with that website ? let the decent lads come on foot.ie and debate with us here if they want to. nothing to be gained interacting with some of the jokers who made those posts above. throwing the name of "bigot" around has always been the action of the bigot in my experience.

[Not Brazil]

'The one post that I really admired on this topic - "At least if our team is comprised mainly of unionists we can go back to not hiding our Britishness by bringing union flags and bringing back the songs that represent us" At last - an honest comment from a true NI fan' (although this was hit with a smart one-liner along the lines of 'you're talking to yourself' from a Patron, no threat of a ban!)


I'm sure it is one of your favourites - now exposed as a comment by an ROI fan from Dublin who has a "split personality" on OWC - posting under two names.:rolleyes:

The "talking to yourself" comment being 100% accurate.

What's that make him?:eek:

PS. Did you notice Michael O'Connor coming back to the fold yesterday?:cool:

[RogerMilla]

I'm sure it is one of your favourites - now exposed as a comment by an ROI fan from Dublin who has a "split personality" on OWC - posting under two names.:rolleyes:


sure the whole site is probably lads "from dublin" trying to make NI fans look bad...:cool:

[Not Brazil]

sure the whole site is probably lads "from dublin" trying to make NI fans look bad...:cool:

RogerMilla,

I didn't say that.

I said that the comments quoted were made by an ROI fan using dual posting names on OWC - and the evidence is on OWC to prove it.

Busted.

[RogerMilla]

RogerMilla,

I didn't say that.

I said that the comments quoted were made by an ROI fan using dual posting names on OWC - and the evidence is on OWC to prove it.

Busted.

and surely it is drowned in the cacophony of bile coming from "real" posters there.

[Drumcondra 69er]

They already have this, and the age is set at 21.



Only 21 if you want to change alliegence, if Chris Sutton for example hadn't played at any level for England he would have been eligible for Scotland after living there for 2 years were it nor for the agreement between the 'home' associations.

[paul_oshea]

I'm sure it is one of your favourites - now exposed as a comment by an ROI fan from Dublin who has a "split personality" on OWC - posting under two names

Is that true? Cos it smacks of another incident of swimming in egypt*

I'm not speaking too cryptic there I hope ;)

[osarusan]

Is that true? Cos it smacks of another incident of swimming in egypt*

I'm not speaking too cryptic there I hope ;)

As someone who is so spelling and grammar focused, I'm sure you'll appreciate my pointing out that it should be "cryptically". You don't need to thank me.;)

[paul_oshea]

nice try, the only thing missing above is a "," after the word cryptic ;) The use of the preposition before the adjective doesn't mean you need to append "ally"

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cryptic



Anyhow back on topic NB where is the thing about yer man, if it is it just makes him look like a flute. he was obviously trying to poach what he deemed others beliefs out by throwing it in there.....egg on face!

[youngirish]

OWC is full of the most mindless, bigoted, insane drivel I've ever read. Compare their opinions on this matter to our more measured response at the end of the Darron Gibson thread when it appeared we (not them) were going to lose this case.

If a united Ireland team ever involves sitting next to a group of OWC posters at Lansdowne Road (if they ever decided to watch a match) then I'll pass thank you very much.

It's also nice the way they haven't let any guests view their site in a long time.

Somebody with a username and password for that site send it to FIFA with a link to ourweecountry.com and they can see in 30 seconds why nationalists don't want to play for Northern Ireland.

[shaneker]

RogerMilla,

I didn't say that.

I said that the comments quoted were made by an ROI fan using dual posting names on OWC - and the evidence is on OWC to prove it.

Busted.

If thats true, and from OWC it looks like it is, then the guys a tw*t and you've done the right thing booting him off.

Care to explain the rest?

And regarding O'Connor going back to play for NI - I have said all along all I'm bothered about is that a player has a right to choose. If he has chosen NI, good luck to him and I hope has has a successful career with you. Same goes for any player from anywhere on the island who chooses to play for NI.

[paul_oshea]

If a united Ireland team ever involves sitting next to a group of OWC posters at Lansdowne Road (if they ever decided to watch a match) then I'll pass thank you very much.



Im surprised Neil didnt get onto this, he will be upset that I spotted it first. But sure you pass all the time, you admitted as much!

[antrimgreen]

Case closed, if your Irish you can play for either team on the Island, heard Howard Wells on the news last night, Jesus he was nearly crying, Howard luck more like it. Common sense has won the day.

[youngirish]

Im surprised Neil didnt get onto this, he will be upset that I spotted it first. But sure you pass all the time, you admitted as much!

Not all the time but quite regularly under that muppet Staunton. It was like getting teeth pulled out watching Ireland under that fool.

[EalingGreen]

sure the whole site is probably lads "from dublin" trying to make NI fans look bad...:cool:

Recently, a poster calling himself "Dazzler32" registered and started debating the eligibility issue, from an all-Ireland, FAI position. Note that his particular moniker was no bar to his registering. He had certain "troll-like" characteristics which caused him to be warned - in particular, he made one rather offensive implication which he refused to back up, despite being repeatedly challenged. Nonetheless, he was allowed to continue posting.

Yesterday, after the FIFA Letter, a 'new' poster registered, calling himself "Dan Clancy" and purporting to be an NI fan. He posted the infamous line:
"At least if our team is comprised mainly of unionists we can go back to not hiding our Britishness by bringing union flags and bringing back the songs that represent us"
Every single poster immediately afterwards who referred to this - "Exhausted", "Limavady GAWA", "Winnie", "Toddy", "Phil", "The Dowie", "The Hawk", "Brian" - poured scorn on this remark, until "Dan Clancy"'s true identity was revealed:

dazzler32
danclancy

Mr Do*** Br***** 24 years old originally from Killarney

Posting from IP Location: Ireland Dublin Eircom Ltd
86-42-152-205.b-ras1.bbh.dublin.eircom.net

Note that OWC desisted from publicly identifying this troll by name, though they might have done so with impunity (what with him coming from a foreign country and all that ;))

Now there have been a number of "inflamed" posters on OWC who in the light of this latest development, have gone further than I would advocate, for example. It is pretty obvious that at a time of controversy, the strongest reactions will come from the most, ahem, reactionary elements. However, as "Dan Clancy" demonstrated, the clear majority of OWC posters deplore such elements.

Finally, it may be news to posters on here, but over the years, OWC has had cause to ban at least as many "Loyalist" flamers as "Nationalist" ones. Indeed, afaik the Irish League section of the Board had to be restricted to Patrons Only precisely due to the activities of these "Uber-Prods", and the Board's owner has been abused by them (for being a "hand-wringing fenian lover" etc) at least as often as he has by the other side for being a "Loyalist bigot" etc

So there you have it. I personally would urge foot.ie posters to join and contribute - so long as they desist from Trolling and Flaming etc, and try to put their argument in a coherent way, they can be a welcome addition to the Board. There are, of course, a few foot.ie posters* who likely won't last very long; then again, I suspect they greatly embarrass the majority of other members of this forum with their witterings!


*- Speaking of which, does Dazzler32/Dan Clancy ring any bells with anyone on this forum? Anyone from down Killarney way? ;)

[antrimgreen]

Back to the subject, the case is now closed and FIFA have let common sense prevail. Thread over IMO.

[Stuttgart88]

Isn't it only a preliminary opinion, rather than a final decision?

[cavan_fan]

It's not in any way over, FIFA have sent this to the 2 association to see if they would both agree and the issue would go away. Seems a bit naive as the IFA were never going to agree. FIFA will therefore have to make an actual decision and I suspect now that will be NI players can play for the Republic.

[EalingGreen]

Back to the subject, the case is now closed and FIFA have let common sense prevail. Thread over IMO.

I suspect you'll find that this is anything but "Thread over", AG.

Earlier on this thread, I was accused by Lopez of "smugly" having "jumped the gun" in assuming the IFA had won its case with FIFA (a complete fabrication Lopez has characteristically failed to back up or retract, btw). How ironic that that this should have been on a thread entitled "Eligibility Finalised"!

I will remind everybody of the RTE Report which opened this particular thread (my emboldenment):

"FIFA propose solution to eligibility row
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
FIFA has sent a letter to the football associations of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland suggesting that players from either side of the border should have free choice about who they play for.

The proposal was formulated by FIFA's legal committee in response to a long-running argument between the two FAI and IFA over the selection of international players.

Currently, players born in Northern Ireland are generally eligible to turn out for the Republic of Ireland providing they have not yet played a competitive match for Northern Ireland but the same does not apply in reverse.

Under the new suggestion put forward by world soccer's governing body, players born in the Republic of Ireland and holding Irish nationality could choose to play for Northern Ireland.

FIFA said on Tuesday it had sent the proposal to the two associations and asked for their feedback.

It added that any final decision on the matter would have to be approved by FIFA's executive committee.

A FIFA spokesman said that no deadline had yet been set for that decision"

Unless or until the IFA accepts this suggestion by FIFA, this issue is most definitely NOT closed. Moreover, the fact that no deadline has been set for any final decision, following a process which had laready dragged on for over a year, suggests to me that we could be mounting our final push for qualification for WC2010 and you searching for a new manager to succeed Stan Staunton's successor before this matter is finally resolved! ;)

[antrimgreen]

My understanding was that FIFA sent the FAI and IFA a letter explaining their intentions. Hopefully they see it threw and it is done and dusted. Your right though Stuggart it is probably not completely finalised.

P.S. Ealing i posted this before i read your post. D'oh. Cheers anyway for the in's and outs.

[shaneker]

Recently, a poster calling himself "Dazzler32" registered and started debating the eligibility issue, from an all-Ireland, FAI position. Note that his particular moniker was no bar to his registering. He had certain "troll-like" characteristics which caused him to be warned - in particular, he made one rather offensive implication which he refused to back up, despite being repeatedly challenged. Nonetheless, he was allowed to continue posting.

Yesterday, after the FIFA Letter, a 'new' poster registered, calling himself "Dan Clancy" and purporting to be an NI fan. He posted the infamous line:
"At least if our team is comprised mainly of unionists we can go back to not hiding our Britishness by bringing union flags and bringing back the songs that represent us"
Every single poster immediately afterwards who referred to this - "Exhausted", "Limavady GAWA", "Winnie", "Toddy", "Phil", "The Dowie", "The Hawk", "Brian" - poured scorn on this remark, until "Dan Clancy"'s true identity was revealed:

dazzler32
danclancy

Mr Do*** Br***** 24 years old originally from Killarney

Posting from IP Location: Ireland Dublin Eircom Ltd
86-42-152-205.b-ras1.bbh.dublin.eircom.net

Note that OWC desisted from publicly identifying this troll by name, though they might have done so with impunity (what with him coming from a foreign country and all that ;))

Now there have been a number of "inflamed" posters on OWC who in the light of this latest development, have gone further than I would advocate, for example. It is pretty obvious that at a time of controversy, the strongest reactions will come from the most, ahem, reactionary elements. However, as "Dan Clancy" demonstrated, the clear majority of OWC posters deplore such elements.

Finally, it may be news to posters on here, but over the years, OWC has had cause to ban at least as many "Loyalist" flamers as "Nationalist" ones. Indeed, afaik the Irish League section of the Board had to be restricted to Patrons Only precisely due to the activities of these "Uber-Prods", and the Board's owner has been abused by them (for being a "hand-wringing fenian lover" etc) at least as often as he has by the other side for being a "Loyalist bigot" etc

So there you have it. I personally would urge foot.ie posters to join and contribute - so long as they desist from Trolling and Flaming etc, and try to put their argument in a coherent way, they can be a welcome addition to the Board. There are, of course, a few foot.ie posters* who likely won't last very long; then again, I suspect they greatly embarrass the majority of other members of this forum with their witterings!


*- Speaking of which, does Dazzler32/Dan Clancy ring any bells with anyone on this forum? Anyone from down Killarney way? ;)

First of all, fair play, since that dazzler/dan fella posted that 'Britishness' thing last night there have been more posts this morning telling him to get lost - although largely along the lines of 'busted', 'so long' etc than openly disagreeing with the statement he made.

Which is the point! The fact is that this forum hasn't even become a 'we're better than you' argument, its become a 'you're worse than us' situation! The fact is that some players and fans associate with our team more than yours, and if the NI supporters community is genuinely committed to ensuring all backgrounds are attracted to your team then comments like I posted above (I notice you and NB have only picked that one out of the selection I posted earlier; what about the rest? Nobody has been criticising them openly) then all posts like that have to be OPENLY attacked for what they truly represent. You can't have it both ways; maybe the majority on that site are open-minded and level-headed, but its very easy to say that, and a different thing altogether to actually demonstrate it, in such ways as banning those who post their bigotted crap and posters rallying to let him know his views do not represent theirs.

Until that happens (and its not just about forums, it goes to other aspects of NI football too) you cannot claim that OWC and therefore the NI support is truly trying to attract people of all background - which is probably why there are the ROI supporters and players choosing to identify with us. If those posts had been responded to with waves of posts telling them how much people disagreed, I would have posted those too. I'm not just picking on OWC for the sake of it (or because I'm a mega-republican or a bigot) but to demonstrate that for a lot of on-the-surface rhetoric about how NI is an all-inclusive cross-community team, there appears to be very little substance to it and very few people actually willing to go the extra mile to back it up (and while I recognise Windsor in now better than it was and FFA and such things, to flash those as if it has solved the problem entirely it completely disregarding the evidence provided on OWC). That is my problem with the site; a steady flow of 'the ROI are the real bigots for encouraging sectarianism whereas we support a cross-community NI team' whereas the truth of the matter is that we have been 99% constructive and unbiased by political issues, and large (and I do mean LARGE) sections of your supporters - OWC, for example - have not. And it ****es me off when those NI fans throw our hugely unusual occurances of sectarianism in our faces, whilst completely ignoring the far, far larger problem that they have in their own support.

EDIT - Apologies, that took a while to write and I didn't see the 'thread over' thing before I started. If this needs deleting, no complaints from me.

[geysir]

Isn't it only a preliminary opinion, rather than a final decision?

Yeah but FIFA are not deviating from their interpretation that Article 15 conditions are suffice and that the annex condition do not apply.

Such a lot of fuss for probably one player every generation. Most (after not making the grade) have the choice to declare for NI before the age of 21