Player eligibility row

[ifk101]

The strategy of the Irish Football Association on the matter was a complete and utter fcuk up.

The IFA knew they couldn't win the case. Indeed they were perfectly aware that NI born players could represent the FAI for over a decade now. So the question is why they decided to take it all the way to CAS? What were they hoping to achieve?

[lopez]

That's absolute nonsense.

It says a lot about you though.

You've just been given a prime example, so what does that tell us about you? Personally I would have thought, with his name, Mr. Kennedy was a Catholic. Indeed the IFA have had at least one Catholic -Austin Donnelly - as its president.

Personally I think Kennedy has managed to keep his bigoted home views away from work. Normally Orangemen are always trying to keep Catholics on the dole. This man is doing everything in his power to ensure they can't go elsewhere for work. I mean, give the bloke a break!

[lopez]

Steady on. Half of your squad are guys who I'd guess feel just a little bit British (having lived all their lives in Britain, quite likely with their British parents).

I'm hoping that the FAI pull out the stops with regards to Northern players and maybe the other half might feel British too.

Perfectly balanced chip on either shoulder alert!

Oh dear! Mustn't allude to anyone from the Unionist community being bigots.

[lopez]

The power of facebook. If only I thought of starting it first. Damn it!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gi...&v=wall&ref=mf

I like your one going on about priests and children. That's the one thing I've noticed about a lot of these people. Amnesia and living in a glass house and thowing stones! Leaving aside the poncing of players from England without any Irish connection, then begging to FIFA to change the rules, and then this. I mean have they not heard of the Kincora Boys Home scandal?

[Not Brazil]

then begging to FIFA to change the rules

They didn't.

They begged FIFA to UPHOLD their rules.

Which FIFA did.

[Not Brazil]

This man is doing everything in his power to ensure they can't go elsewhere for work. I mean, give the bloke a break!

Kennedy resigned (under pressure) as President of the Irish Football Association early in July.

The post is now being discussed in Orange Halls throughout the United Kingdom, and a secret ballot amongst members of the Orange Institution is to be held.*

*Excluding those from the Republic Of Ireland.

[The Fly]

Is there or is there not mostly orangemen in high positions within the IFA ?

There is a big difference between there being orangemen within the IFA organisation, and stating that orange order membership is a mandatory requirement to achieve high office within it!

Such a suggestion would be insidious.....to say the least.

[Gather round]

Oh dear! Mustn't allude to anyone from the Unionist community being bigots

It was more the allusion to irrelevant whataboutery. Anyway, did you enjoy the TV nostalgia of watching Alf Garnett and his chinas dahn yer Hemel manor?

[Mr_Parker]

Kennedy resigned (under pressure) as President of the Irish Football Association early in July.

Unfortunately he hasn't gone yet and he is still trying to hang on by his fingernails.

[lopez]

There is a big difference between there being orangemen within the IFA organisation, and stating that orange order membership is a mandatory requirement to achieve high office within it!

Such a suggestion would be insidious.....to say the least.

The suggestion that it is a requirement is indeed insidious, but that does not mean that it is not something of a disadvantage on one's CV. Personally I'm shocked that this man was allowed to continue his membership. It's like the head of the FA being a member of the BNP. I know the recently departed one was Jewish but you can see the conflict of interests here. Can you see the mixed message this gives off with 'Football for all' etc?

[Razors left peg]

Would I be right in saying that Niall McGinn shows that there might not necessarily be a mass exodus of players from the north on the nationalist side? I remember hearing a while back that he never had any interest in playing for the ROI. Would he be the exception rather than the rule?

[lopez]

It was more the allusion to irrelevant whataboutery. Anyway, did you enjoy the TV nostalgia of watching Alf Garnett and his chinas dahn yer Hemel manor?

Quite funny. And clever in that it points out that Alf's racism eases as the 'non-white's' wealth and status increases - he speaks fondly of his Indian sergeant major from his army days - while his long-suffering wife and lefty, Scouser, son-in-law's racism explodes when they find out she's slept with Kenny Lynch. Also when Alf has a trip on some LSD he reckons all black people are 'salt of the earth' and they should let more of them into the country before he happily imagines himself turning black. One for any 'Film Studies' degree me thinks.

[lopez]

Would I be right in saying that Niall McGinn shows that there might not necessarily be a mass exodus of players from the north on the nationalist side? I remember hearing a while back that he never had any interest in playing for the ROI. Would he be the exception rather than the rule?

Probably there won't. Places in the ROI side are limited. Then there are other considerations, like how the IFA coaches treat the players, as well as how the nationalist player himself views the south. It's a storm in a tea cup really and a total overreaction from let's say the more sensitive side of the Unionist community. The wise heads rightly claim that they could have kept a lid on this by just keeping the mouths shut.

[Not Brazil]

It's like the head of the FA being a member of the BNP. I know the recently departed one was Jewish but you can see the conflict of interests here. Can you see the mixed message this gives off with 'Football for all' etc?

Obviously you've forgotten the colours and significance of the National flag of the Republic Of Ireland.

Ah well.

[lopez]

Obviously you've forgotten the colours and significance of the National flag of the Republic Of Ireland.

Ah well.

And what significance is that then? That the Orange represents a bigoted, sectarian organisation? Or the 20% of the population of Ireland that are non-Catholic Christians?