Eligibility Rules, Okay

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Originally Posted by Gather round

Strictly, I said that they MAY not have met. Taking words out of others' mouths eh?

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I wouldn't say so. You said that many such players may not have met their grandparent. So unless you're now agreeing that it isn't at all likely and that you used the word may but didn't really mean it then I'm not sure what you're getting at.

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You've no more idea than I do exactly how many of these family groups have actually met, and you've ignored my step-by-step logical explanation why they may not have.

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I must have missed that bit. The two main reasons that I can think of for someone not meeting their grandparent would be:
- Grandparent died before the player was born
- Some kind of family dispute/scandal/adoption

both of which would be very unfortunate for the individual concerned, but I don't think it applies to too many players at all.

Think of it this way. It's the odds of not meeting a grandparent multiplied by the odds that that grandparent was born in a different country to all of the other grandparents, the parents and the player. It's a very small number of players. I'm still waiting for the first example of such a player.

More trolling crap by Gather round.
Just ignore him lads.

After all the faux outrage from Gerry Armstrong & the IFA U21 boss last week over Liam McAlinden opting to play for Ireland rather than the north, the same IFA U21 boss Stephen Robinson is directly quoted in a sunday paper today saying : "And i make no apology for saying if there any English born players in the Republic set-up, we will look at them. That is something we have to do. If an opportunity arises whereby we can benefit the other way round, then we would not be doing our jobs right to ignore it."

You couldn't make it up!

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Originally Posted by co. down green

After all the faux outrage from Gerry Armstrong & the IFA U21 boss last week over Liam McAlinden opting to play for Ireland rather than the north, the same IFA U21 boss Stephen Robinson is directly quoted in a sunday paper today saying : "And i make no apology for saying if there any English born players in the Republic set-up, we will look at them. That is something we have to do. If an opportunity arises whereby we can benefit the other way round, then we would not be doing our jobs right to ignore it."

You couldn't make it up!

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In their myopic, self-righteous and insular world your opinion would be deemed to be wrong!

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Originally Posted by co. down green

After all the faux outrage from Gerry Armstrong & the IFA U21 boss last week over Liam McAlinden opting to play for Ireland rather than the north, the same IFA U21 boss Stephen Robinson is directly quoted in a sunday paper today saying : "And i make no apology for saying if there any English born players in the Republic set-up, we will look at them. That is something we have to do. If an opportunity arises whereby we can benefit the other way round, then we would not be doing our jobs right to ignore it."

You couldn't make it up!

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What? Does he mean English born with a link to the 6 or any English born with links to any of the 32? There was that BBC report recently that said,

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They took advantage of a Fifa ruling that allows players from the island of Ireland to choose which national side they represent, provided they have not played for the other in a competitive senior international.

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before it was corrected, possibly following the complaint from BonnieShels. Maybe NI are having second thoughts on the FIFA proposed deal that they rejected, although I'm not even sure if that would have applied in this case. Things are getting desperate up there in IFA central.

With the possible exception of NB, most of the North/IFA's 'supporters/apologists' have proved themselves singularly unable to grasp the implications of the GFA & CAS Ruling on selection criteria for their team.
It may not be their demise as NB says, but they do appear ​to be a team in decline. Though probably not terminal.

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Originally Posted by co. down green

IFA U21 boss Stephen Robinson is directly quoted in a sunday paper today saying : "And i make no apology for saying if there any English born players in the Republic set-up, we will look at them. That is something we have to do. If an opportunity arises whereby we can benefit the other way round, then we would not be doing our jobs right to ignore it."

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Stephen might be a little confused - it would only be worth his while looking at English born players in the Republic set up who have a Northern Irish Parent or Grandparent.

That might limit his search somewhat.

I find such statements and measures to be demeaning to International football.

Heh. Good point, well made...

Hence, er, Alex Bruce...
And his ilk.

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Originally Posted by Irwin3

What? Does he mean English born with a link to the 6 or any English born with links to any of the 32?

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You just couldn't be sure how the IFA interpret the statutes...

It's an interesting comment in its explicit admission of their preparedness to "poach" players born outside of the north, but also players actually active in the set-up of another association. Not that I have any issue with that; it's all above board. It's the hypocrisy of it and the positioning of themselves on some (very suspect) moral high-ground in relation to FAI activities that I find rich.

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

You just couldn't be sure how the IFA interpret the statutes...

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You'd have thought they'd have a copy of the CAS Ruling lying about Windsor Avenue somewhere - then again....

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

It's the hypocrisy of it and the positioning of themselves on some (very suspect) moral high-ground in relation to FAI activities that I find rich.

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Agreed. I have spent time on here arguing that taking players like Alex Bruce isn't the 'same thing' as they accuse the FAI of doing, but the quote above would suggest this (new?) approach is very much the same thing, and does leave them open to claims of hypocrisy.

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Originally Posted by osarusan

Agreed. I have spent time on here arguing that taking players like Alex Bruce isn't the 'same thing' as they accuse the FAI of doing, but the quote above would suggest this (new?) approach is very much the same thing, and does leave them open to claims of hypocrisy.

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Not forgetting...desperation.

Very sad really.

You'll excuse me if I don't terribly excited about about the prospect of some English lad, who has chosen to play for the FAI, being begged to come play for Northern Ireland.

Nah...that doesn't get my International football juices flowing one bit!:(

PS: I see the ROI have a Fans team going over to Lviv in Ukraine next week for the Annual "Eurofans" tournament...any of you lads on here going over?

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Originally Posted by osarusan

Agreed. I have spent time on here arguing that taking players like Alex Bruce isn't the 'same thing' as they accuse the FAI of doing, but the quote above would suggest this (new?) approach is very much the same thing, and does leave them open to claims of hypocrisy.

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I don't think it is a new approach, to be honest. They've always seemed happy to work, like any other association, within the rules as they are, but then have a moan when the FAI specifically do the exact same thing. Didn't Armstrong contact Connor Wickham, for example?

They have fallen so far off the deep end they've gone into orbit and will one day be visible with the naked eye.

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

I don't think it is a new approach, to be honest. They've always seemed happy to work, like any other association, within the rules as they are, but then have a moan when the FAI specifically do the exact same thing. Didn't Armstrong contact Connor Wickham, for example?

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IFA U21 manager Stephen Robinson "I will continue to spend part of my week at academies in England & Scotland meeting players and managers. We will hopefully benefit from young English ansd Scottish players who aren't getting a look-in in their own set-up's. Michael O'Neill is heavily involved at that level too, and has been with me several times to speak to young lads and their families. And i make no apology for saying if there any English born players in the Republic set-up, we will look at them. That is something we have to do. If an opportunity arises whereby we can benefit the other way round, then we would not be doing our jobs right to ignore it."

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

They have fallen so far off the deep end they've gone into orbit and will one day be visible with the naked eye.

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..before going supernova under the crushing weight of their own inconsequence.

“The one lad in the team who might end up playing for Ireland is the captain Cameron McGeehan. He has played for Northern Ireland but I think he might be interested in switching to us.”

See More: http://www.irishpost.co.uk/sport/kyle-callan-mcfadden

Another article in that paper gives another angle to the complex issue of Irishness and ancestry!

http://www.irishpost.co.uk/news/seco...-claims-leader

I think it's fair to say we won't be seeing his kids in green anytime.

Those EDL lads sound like a great laugh...

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Another article in that paper gives another angle to the complex issue of Irishness and ancestry!

http://www.irishpost.co.uk/news/seco...-claims-leader

I think it's fair to say we won't be seeing his kids in green anytime.

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From the same neck of the woods as one Kevin Patrick Foley. Funny how paths differ.