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I thought it was balanced and interesting even if not exactly perceptive of the core issue it is a documentation of sorts.
From the Spotlight Program, some of the text was sent to me.
Eamonn McCann
"The Neil Lennon incident certainly confirmed in the minds of many NI nationalists that the NI team was not for them and wasn't part of them".
"There were loads of them in Derry deeply depressed by the fact that NI had beaten England, there were loads of pubs in NI where nationalists were cheering on England. It told you something about who the people thought was the real enemy."
"Football associations particularily in these Islands is run by blazers, not only by blazers but by people who polish the buttons on them :) if there was an all Ireland team one result of that would be that only half the number of them would entitled to go on junkets and rules revisions in Hawaii, where the 2 Ireland teams are well represented".
Felix Healy
"Footballers from the Brandwell have played for NI and were proud to do so, playing for the Republic was never an issue I think in this day and age the issue has been politicised because footballers only want to play for ...."(cut)
Asked on the reaction from Derry people to him standing for GSTQ at WP
"You were playing for NI you were a footballer who was an international player, the political overtones didnīt come into it."
Then some stuff about the Bingham team being together and united, the political situation made them more so
Felix is not surprised that the IFA are not holding onto players
"when I was the manager of Derry I had people from Dublin ringing me about players, nobody rang me from Belfast nobody from any international set up in Belfast rang me about players that I had in Derry".
"I got dreadful abuse at Windsor Park, shocking sectarian abuse at WP as was the case at the Oval and one or two other grounds because I was a high profile player for Coleraine and some of the abuse directed at me and my family was sectarian garbage and it was difficult not to react to that."
Pat Ramsay - nationalist politician- viewpoint
"They (IFA) are trying to remove someones Irishness and exclude them from playing for the country that they have affiliation with.
These players are not interested in living in the South, they are born and bred in NI they are part of a small Island, Poots knows the GFA was introduced to give some equality across the board and a consensus to bring about the resolution (to problems) we have in NI in terms of Assembly/ executive he canīt cherry pick that now".
Paul Mc Loughlin, DGīs uncle
"From very very young Darron has always wanted to play for the best, you just knew that he was going to be a professional footballer, nothing else mattered to him."
Paul grew up supporting NI and said it was nearly second nature to go and want to play for them
Darron had played in u17 internat for NI in a tournament in Germany and had been awarded player of the tournament.
"Thats the last we heard of Northern Ireland, nobody has ever come back again, they havent come back, Darron was saying has anything happenned but I couldnt say anything."
Noel says from his own initiative he then took Darron for a trial with the Republic's youngsters
"The IFA came back when he was on the bench against San Marino and said hi Darron canīt play for the Republic, they were saying he is our player whoom they didnīt show any interest in until the senior manager picked him, they didnīt use their own opinion they just went with the opinion of another national manager."
Wells - "my info is that he was continued to be selected that was prior to my being here" Wells said he has seen the records and the that it was unlikely that there would have been a long gap.
I only caught a few minutes of it but taped it as well. It seemed like it wasn't really aimed at people who were already paying attention to it beforehand and was merely introducing the issue to the wider public.
Have to agree with this, this is one of the major obstacles to an ireland team. (not that id want it though if im honest)Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
This program was neither balanced, nor interesting. it was a partisan political broadcast on behalf of unionism. The entire tone of the program was set by the reporter / mouthpiece's constant referrals to 'stealing', poaching', and 'defection' of players. Hardly suitable language to illustrate one side of the argument fairly.Quote:
Originally Posted by geysir
And as for Red Eamonn? The man is talking absolute sh1te. he would rather revel in the notion that we don't hate england, we actually hate each other as the downtrodden working class manipulated by the foul, insidious bourgoisie. Following englands defeat at the hands of Norn Irn, i didnt meet ONE SINGLE PERSON in derry who was upset. most were actually quite pleased at the result.
Despite the efforts of some to eradicate sectarianism from the IFA, the fact of the matter is that such efforts are STILL ongoing, hence the sectarianism still exists. Hardly a conducive atmosphere to entice a young talented footballer from a nationalist background to go and play for the north. Lennon is the prime example, but not the only one that exists, I'm sure.
Wells just showed himself up as a fool who either didnt know very mcuh about the subject, or didnt want to talk about it in real, definitive, FACTUAL terms, which was supposedly the point of the programme.
As for the FAI 'poaching' players by asking them to ask when the IFA has ignored them? catch yourself on. ever hear the saying 'don't ask, don't get'? if the IFA do not invite someone to play at an international level for them, then they can't complain if someone else offers them the same chance and they take it. is this the current attitude in the IFA? 'we don't want him, but you can't have him'? infantile at the very least.
and as for nationality? your nationality is your nationality, be it in political, footballing, social, or economic terms. I'm irish. if i go to work in britain, i'm still irish. if i got watch the milan derby, i'm still irish. if i live in france for so long that i can vote there, i'm still irish.
And if you represent the Irish Football Association, playing for Northern Ireland in Belfast, in an Emerald Green shirt with a Celtic Cross on it, what does that make you? Greek? :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by shantykelly
As Felix Healey - himself clearly happy enough to play for NI put it - this whole issue of eligibility has become politicised, which is never a good thing for any sport in any context.
Gerry Armstrong is living proof (as well as a Living Legend!) that it is possible for someone to play Gaelic Football at Croke Park, then International Soccer for NI at Windsor Park, without either making him more or less "Irish" or more or less "British" - in the end, he can be whatever he wants to be.
Quite simply, there are two Irish Football Associations and therefore two Irish International Football Teams on this island, each equally valid as the other.
And I believe that if you are born within the juridiction of one, you should represent them but if born within the jurisdiction of the other, that is who you should represent (unless you have valid connections such as parent/grandparent/residence with both, in which case you may choose).
And, you're the wise guy who would "love to see" an All Ireland team, but don't think any Northern Ireland players are good enough to be in it.Quote:
Originally Posted by kingdomkerry
Brilliant.:D
[QUOTE=shantykelly;866282]This program was neither balanced, nor interesting. it was a partisan political broadcast on behalf of unionism. QUOTE]
:D
Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
IFA should act on the advice they pay good money for (well, probably Tony or Bertie pay for) .... Too late now anyway ....
Ban for UK anthem demanded
Monday December 12 2005
THE singing of 'God Save the Queen' should be banned at international soccer matches in the North and replaced with a more "neutral" anthem, according to a report commissioned by the Irish Football Association, writes Allison Bray.
The current ban on playing soccer matches on Sundays in the North should also be scrapped, says a 39-page report on the future of Northern Ireland football by the Belfast-based charity Democratic Dialogue.
"The IFA should consider a public competition to see if a more widely acceptable anthem can be found," the report says.
http://www.independent.ie/world-news...ed-225499.html
------
Gerry Armstrong grew up in different times ... people put up with a lot more sh*t* (both North & South of the Border) when he was growing up. People are much better educated and have higher expectations now ...
Both jurisdictions are very valid, but what is more valid is in a person's right to choose how to express their heritage/culture/nationality.
Interesting research here EG on identity in NI.
http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/dd/papers/flags.htm
And, great to see two kids on Derry City's books off on tour with the Northern Ireland Under 18 squad next week.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paddy Garcia
Good luck to them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Not Brazil
What was the IFA's excuse for not phoning up Derry all those years?
they couldn't get through as the FAI were always on the line?:D
You might have grasped that that point was demonstrated perfectly on the program. It's not a failure of the program, quite the opposite actually.Quote:
Originally Posted by shantykelly
The programme asked him the questions, he was unable to answer.
He could not explain the FIFA status quo position or admit to his failure to interpret the very simple wording on FIFA annex rule 901.
Instead he tried to fob off that FIFA made a mysterious decision, the details of which might be revealed when the minutes are published.
More mysterious than the secret of Fatima.
What morons could swallow that tripe.
Wells doesnīt know his arsé from his elbow when it comes to understanding FIFA rules of eligibility. Yet he purported to lead the OWC fans in a campaign based on his ignorance to persuade FIFA to use a rule of eligibility which doesnīt apply.
The OWC followed Well's lead blindly and we had to witness more emotional rubbish written on this subject from legal illiterates than was ever written about Stan.
And we are not talking about a Lisbon treaty type legal document.
The FAI have consistantly kept off the airwaves on this matter so this program was no different. While Wells turned it into a self rightuos public crusade.
Footballers have a choice, some will choose the OWC some will choose the Republic.
although not in football, i actuallhave represented northern ireland in sport,at an amateur level, on the international stage. i'm still irish.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
i agree that whilst northern ireland exists, the ifa has every right to exist. i do not dispute this fact, and would actually like to see football in the north not only surviving, but prospering. i'm a great believer in all things local.
however, what i do take issue with is this idea that if you are born in northern ireland, you HAVE to play for it's international side. each player should be allowed to make their own choice in the matter. the ifa currently does suffer from a certain reputation, some of it real, but most of it imagined, and i accept that a lot of folks are working damn hard to change that. however, they still have a lot of ground to cover, especially in places like derry. there exists a special history there.
I agree. Brilliant. Players now have the right to choose. Thats all most of us on foot.ie argued for!Quote:
Originally Posted by Not Brazil
I think George McCartney and now that Traitor finnan is retired aron hughes would make an AI team. If i think other players are'nt good enough thats my opinion. And i dont think im too far off the markQuote:
Originally Posted by Not Brazil
Do you know what the word traitor means. I was not happy with Finnans decision but he is not a traitor.
Yeah, I seen Finnan being called a traitor somwhere else too and I thought I missed someting, I just didn't get it. He is definetly not a traitor.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilMcD
yeah it's not like he declared for England or anything!
The programme is available on BBC iplayer if anyone wants to see it (not sure people in ROI can use it though?)
Surely Fifa shoudl intervene in this, it should be my right to watch BBC IPlayer as part of the Good Friday agreement. If the RTE Guide is available in Northern Ireland we should have BBC I player. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by boovidge
hahaha! :D