Player eligibility row

The fat lady's slightly rotund cousin - has sung!


http://www.tas-cas.org/press-release

http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/docu...10%20FINAL.pdf


The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rendered its final
decision in the appeal filed by the Irish Football Association (IFA) against the decision taken by the FIFA Players’ Status Committee on 4 February 2010.

On 3 November 2009, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) submitted a request to FIFA to allow the player Daniel Kearns to represent the national team of the FAI based on his dual British and Irish nationalities. The Single Judge of the FIFA Players’ Status Committee decided that Mr Kearns fulfilled the objective requirements provided by Article 18 of the Regulations

Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes, since the player had never represented Northern Ireland in an official competition at “A” International level. The IFA filed an appeal with CAS on 2 March 2010 and the case was heard by a CAS Panel in Lausanne on 19 July 2010.

The CAS Panel dismissed the appeal and confirmed the decision issued by the Single Judge of the FIFA Players’ Status Committee, which recognized that Daniel Kearns was eligible to play for the national team of the FAI.

The full arbitral award with the grounds for the decision will be published by the CAS in a few days.

Marvelous. I look forward to Irishmen from all 32 counties of the island turning out for Ireland (Oops, 'Republic of') without the niggle of petty vindictiveness, their birthright to do so emphatically and unquestionably (re)confirmed.

Someone once posed the question, "Should we stop recruiting NI players?"

Well...

Darron Gibson, Marc Wilson, Shane Duffy et al say no.
The FAI says no.
FIFA says no.
CAS says no.

Collectively, the opinions that matter.

Good luck to Norn Iron in their future endeavors. :clover:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4Wbmp6CQo8

Ahhhh!! That feels good.

John Delaney's quote sums it up perfectly

http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=c...r-19&Itemid=12

"Today's landmark decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirms the FIFA and FAI position on player eligibility. The ruling upholds the right of individual choice on this matter for players born north of the border. I would like to thank the many people from all parts of the island who were strongly supportive during this process, and in particular, recognise the determination of Daniel Kearns and his family to uphold his right as an Irish citizen to play for his country."

IFA STATEMENT

http://www.irishfa.com/news/item/584...-fa-statement/


THE Irish Football Association is disappointed at today’s decision made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne. The Association will not be making any official comment on the decision at this time as the full reasons for the decision have not yet been announced.

This Irish FA has a very successful ‘Football For All’ programme where the main objective of the programme is to make sure that the sport of football is welcoming and inclusive to all members of our society in Northern Ireland and we will continue to drive this initiative forward. We pride ourselves with the fact that all Northern Ireland International football teams have always represented our community fairly. All our programmes – from grassroots football and our Centres of Excellence, to our girls and women's football and disability development programmes - each and every one has always been cross community, promoting ‘Football For All’.

The Association runs many successful grassroots programmes and the numbers participating in these programmes and representing Northern Ireland at all age groups / levels and from all communities, continues to rise.

The Association has worked tirelessly over the last number of years to create a family, friendly atmosphere at Northern Ireland internationals. These changes are the result of years of hard work by proactive, passionate and dedicated Northern Ireland football fans.

Raymond Kennedy, President of the Irish FA said: “I am disappointed by today’s decision but we will continue to develop our very successful and wide range of ‘Football for All’ and community programmes in the areas of grassroots, domestic and International football to ensure that anyone available to play for Northern Ireland will want to do so.”

Finally, the Irish Football Association wishes Daniel Kearns the best of luck in his future footballing career.

FAI success in player eligibility case
Friday, 30 July 2010 14:50


http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/0730/fai_ifa.html

The Football Association of Ireland has confirmed that it has won the case taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) by the IFA in relation to Daniel Kearns.

The landmark ruling vindicates the FAI and FIFA position that players born within the island of Ireland are eligible to play for FAI international teams and provides complete and final clarity on the matter.

The ruling comes into force with immediate effect and under the terms of the ruling, the IFA will pay all related costs. The FAI would like to take the opportunity to highlight that it has in recent years had good relations with the IFA. Those were maintained throughout this case and will continue into the future.

Welcoming the ruling, FAI Chief Executive John Delaney said: 'Today's landmark decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirms the FIFA and FAI position on player eligibility. The ruling upholds the right of individual choice on this matter for players born north of the border.

'I would like to thank the many people from all parts of the island who were strongly supportive during this process, and in particular, recognise the determination of Daniel Kearns and his family to uphold his right as an Irish citizen to play for his country.'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...sh/8872065.stm


http://www.u.tv/Sport/IFA-disappoint...1-4da1d0628e41

That BBC article is awful. Take this paragraph for example:

Quote:

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Fifa rules include a clause allowing players to change nationality once before they play a senior competitive match if they were born "on the territory of the relevant association".

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Fair play to the IFA but needs to address the issue of its fanbase, who basically represent British people in the main
and see themselves as such.

Hence this farce of a case....

Ealing Green
Gather Round
George Seawright

You boys took a hul of a beating...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sullivinho

Good luck to Norn Iron in their future endeavors

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Ta, same to the Republic in yours.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dan the Man

Gather Round, George Seawright, You boys took a hul of a beating

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I thought George (a Glaswegian) supported Scotland?

Of course they should never have gone anywhere near CAS in the first place, but at least the inevitable loss means we won't have to put up with your boys gurning about another CAS/ FIFA/ freemasonic conspiracy.

Let's move on.

So that's finally the end of now?

Don't think there's anywhere left to go after the CAS unless I'm mistaken.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maroon 7

So that's finally the end of now?

Don't think there's anywhere left to go after the CAS unless I'm mistaken.

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No the battle has been won.

The only major decisions left to be taken are on the location of FAI training camps in Northern Ireland.

I shall miss this thread. :)

But the unionists are next....
Well those that claim to be 'Irish' !
:)

The good guys won today.

That's all that matters.

Enjoy the bank holiday weekend

An Dun abu ;-)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gather round

Of course they should never have gone anywhere near CAS in the first place

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I wonder why they felt it was the best option?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gather round

Let's move on.

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Yes, let's. I don't suppose you could encourage your fellow supporters to do the same, GR?

Time to close this thread ?

Good to see logic won out at the end of the day. still begs the question, did the IFA ever feel they had a case to begin with?

With the exceptional circumstances that exist on this Island it was the only sane decision that could be made.

Players from all of the Island and from all backrouds are invited to come and play for Ireland ("republic of" if that keeps some happier)
we hope that the new ground at Landsdowne road is a fitting venue for you to display your skills at home games:D