Player eligibility row

[Gather round]

I'm aware that Serbia and Montenegro represented the two independent states at one point in time but that was more out of convenience/necessity due to the fact that Montenegro had only just been granted its independence in the midst of official competition. If I'm not mistaken, the current Serbian team is recognised as that team's successor. How do FIFA decide who should succeed in such cases?

What tended to happen in post-communist Europe was that new/ revived, smaller countries (eg Estonia, Slovenia) broke away from the larger, dominating power (Soviet Union, Yugoslavia) leaving the rump (Russia, Serbia) as the 'successor' inheriting the past playing record etc.

If Belgium ever splits (probably the most likely scenario in western Europe), things might get interesting. Assuming the Flemings launch the breakaway, the Walloons might argue that despite only 40% of the population (and less that of the decent football teams) they deserve to maintain their ranking while the Flems get kicked down into pot six?

And have some strange ditty apparently about their 'own' Steve Beaglehole and a canine's rear end

Guilty as charged yer honor (and call the witness GSpain for the defence). Unbounded as is my admiration for our U-21 supremo, even by NI standards he has a very silly name.

[seanfhear]

An organisation controlled by Orangemen would be wise not to spout stuff about Apartheid.

Really if the IFA are serious about attracting players from all sections of society in NI then they should remove the members of the Orange Order from its ranks.

[Gather round]

Really if the IFA are serious about attracting players from all sections of society in NI then they should remove the members of the Orange Order from its ranks

They already attract players from all sections of society (although presumably that would change if they had a ban on Orange Order members).

[seanfhear]

They already attract players from all sections of society (although presumably that would change if they had a ban on Orange Order members).

There is recent evidence that for whatever reasons players from some sections of NI society are not inclined to play for NI.

If the IFA are interested in attracting as many players as possible from all sections of NI society then it would surely be beneficial to distance itself from an organisation that holds the views that the Orange Order does. There should be no place in the IFA for Orangemen if the IFA are serious about wanting players from all sections of NI society.

[Gather round]

Sean- while I share your distaste for the Orange Order, I think you overstate their 'place' in the IFA. In practice replacing Raymond Kennedy with a left-wing atheist wouldn't of itself change either the nature of the organisation nor the likelihood of players from nationalist areas wanting to play, or not.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Posts like this make me think you're not too familiar with the meaning of hypocrisy, so I'll go with paranoia.

Clearly you don't read their MB. In that context, it's them taking a 'holier than thou attitude' about them and all things relating to the Irish football team, whilst allowing EG et al to describe us in whatever terms they see fit.
It's nothing new, so basically don't expect rapid change.

[seanfhear]

Sean- while I share your distaste for the Orange Order, I think you overstate their 'place' in the IFA. In practice replacing Raymond Kennedy with a left-wing atheist wouldn't of itself change either the nature of the organisation nor the likelihood of players from nationalist areas wanting to play, or not.

Good to hear your view of the Orange Order and you are probably correct that replacing Raymond Kennedy with a left wing athiest would not have immediate effect but the symbolism of the IFA distancing itself from the Orange Order should not be underestimated in the longer term.

[DannyInvincible]

What tended to happen in post-communist Europe was that new/ revived, smaller countries (eg Estonia, Slovenia) broke away from the larger, dominating power (Soviet Union, Yugoslavia) leaving the rump (Russia, Serbia) as the 'successor' inheriting the past playing record etc.

If Belgium ever splits (probably the most likely scenario in western Europe), things might get interesting. Assuming the Flemings launch the breakaway, the Walloons might argue that despite only 40% of the population (and less that of the decent football teams) they deserve to maintain their ranking while the Flems get kicked down into pot six?

Are you aware of any rules that deal with such scenarios or is the final decision left to the whim of FIFA's executive committee; those honourable custodians of all that is beautiful in our game? Generally, it seems that those states who break away from an existing state with a recognised team to form a new state are the ones left with the clean slate. I suppose that makes sense as the new state also begins with a clean constitutional slate. Indeed, that's what occurred when the FAI broke away from the IFA after partition, in spite of the inferior population of the IFA's jurisdiction, so you're probably right about Belgium, if ever it was to split.

An organisation controlled by Orangemen would be wise not to spout stuff about Apartheid.

Your persistence is a parody of the way in which NI fans speak of the FAI, right?

[dantheman]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/...soccer_av.html

Not sure if already posted. Discussion here.

[seanfhear]

Your persistence is a parody of the way in which NI fans speak of the FAI, right?

Yeah maybe !

People in Glass houses firing canons and all that jazz ! !

[Jamjar]

Couldn't be arsed reading all the posts on this thread, but presumably now its a mute argument as with the passport office go slow it'll be years before any NI players can get their ROI passports anyway.

[DannyInvincible]

Couldn't be arsed reading all the posts on this thread, but presumably now its a mute argument as with the passport office go slow it'll be years before any NI players can get their ROI passports anyway.

I think it's been mentioned already that it has nothing to do with passports. Irish citizenship is a birthright for those born in Northern Ireland. They don't necessarily require a passport to exercise it or identify as Irish. A passport simply amounts to a form of identification.

...As far as my understanding goes anyway, unless someone would like to correct me.

[Jamjar]

I think it's been mentioned already that it has nothing to do with passports. Irish citizenship is a birthright for those born in Northern Ireland. They don't necessarily require a passport to exercise it or identify as Irish. A passport simply amounts to a form of identification.

...As far as my understanding goes anyway, unless someone would like to correct me.

It was meant to be a joke....but, they'd need their passports for the away games.

[DannyInvincible]

It was meant to be a joke....but, they'd need their passports for the away games.

I'm aware it was a joke but I just thought it gave a false representation of the facts that apply here. Not to be a kill-joy or nout.

If my understanding is correct, though, the likes of Darron Gibson might be able to travel and represent Ireland on a British passport, but I couldn't be sure. Strange, but maybe technically possible. Maybe someone could confirm that. I do know that the IFA, for example, allow players from the north with Irish passports to represent Northern Ireland, but when they are representing Northern Ireland, they are still exercising their British nationality, despite maybe not even possessing a British passport.

[ArdeeBhoy]

I think it's been mentioned already that it has nothing to do with passports. Irish citizenship is a birthright for those born in Northern Ireland. They don't necessarily require a passport to exercise it or identify as Irish. A passport simply amounts to a form of identification.

...As far as my understanding goes anyway, unless someone would like to correct me.

To Jj, my siblings born in the North, have both held Irish passports for 20 years or more.
And my niece and nephews. for much less. They're half-English, but until they decide otherwise.... our kid was born in Doire!