Eligibility Rules, Okay

I've done a Google search for the exact phrase, "engaged in a minimum of five years' education under the age of 18 within the territory of the relevant association", and the only results really are either media releases relating to Andrew Driver or links to forum threads discussing him. There are one or two relating to Arteta but nothing remotely official from FIFA or the SFA, FA or whoever. Who knows? Do you have any contacts in the IFA you could ask about it? If it's some private gentleman's agreement between the British associations made possible by that additional clause in article 6, maybe they'd be aware of it?

Yesterday, I had a Liverpool fan telling me that Liverpool were going to receive an automatic buy into the Champions League in the place of Fenerbahce, who the Turkish association had decided to decline nominating as their representative as a result of proven match-fixing allegations that were made against them. He assured me this would be the case because Liverpool were the "highest ranked team not in the competition", it was trending on Twitter and that's what he’d heard the rules said... This all failed to take into account that UEFA can't just deny a member association its nomination, of course. When I pointed this out, another chap then told me that the Turkish association were having their nomination stripped from them because Trabzonspor were also being investigated as part of the scandal. Of course, it all turned out to be complete and utter baloney; UEFA announced a short while later that Trabzonspor were to be nominated as the Turkish representatives in Fenerbahce's place. I'd actually expected Kayserispor to be nominated as the next best-placed Turkish team who hadn't qualified for or begun playing in European competition already this season, but at least Trabzonspor's nomination still made sense to me. I suppose the point is that I don't trust anything that is reported any longer in relation to supposed FIFA/UEFA statutes and rules when anyone and everyone seems happy to fall for the gossip and rumour. Same thing with the whole "Arteta for England?" saga. I don't know if he mentioned it publicly at the time, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind me saying - it wasn't anything major and I thought it pretty cool actually* - but that story actually broke as an exclusive in one of the major English papers after our very own Stutts had a legal friend of his contact FIFA's legal department to clarify matters after deliberations on this forum. FIFA confirmed our thinking was correct and I think his pal then contacted the media about it. It was interesting actually, because I recall the particular paper - can't remember exactly which - spun it from an anti-Capello perspective; "incompetent Capello didn't even realise Arteta wasn't even eligible" sort of slant...

*Even if it did crush poor Arteta's hopes and dreams. :p

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Who knows? Do you have any contacts in the IFA you could ask about it? If it's some private gentleman's agreement between the British associations made possible by that additional clause in article 6, maybe they'd be aware of it?

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As someone who witnessed the IFA's inability to grasp the more pertainent eligibility rules, as applicable to Northern Irish born players, first hand, you'll excuse me if I don't run asking them for advice and guidance on eligibility rules.:D;)

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

As someone who witnessed the IFA's inability to grasp the more pertainent eligibility rules, as applicable to Northern Irish born players, first hand, you'll excuse me if I don't run asking them for advice and guidance on eligibility rules.:D;)

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http://irishleaguesupporters.com/for...ughing92yn.gif

Unfortunately you are so right.

Uefa president Michel Platini admits, 'I fear for the future of football': http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...-football.html

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[Amongst other things covered in the article] Platini would also like Fifa to introduce a rule that ensures a player commits himself to an international team at 18, an issue with England and Ghana over Emmanuel Frimpong. "I believe you need to ask a player at 18, when he becomes an adult, which nationality he is rather than wait for a senior competitive game. People are bargaining over them."

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I'm not sure if that's to be interpreted as a mere personal preference or a signal that he'll actively promote the re-implementation of an age cap.

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Uefa president Michel Platini admits, 'I fear for the future of football': http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...-football.html
I'm not sure if that's to be interpreted as a mere personal preference or a signal that he'll actively promote the re-implementation of an age cap
.

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Usual problem with that, ie. 'Age of Majority' as applies in various countries around the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_majority

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Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

Usual problem with that, ie. 'Age of Majority' as applies in various countries around the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_majority

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Think 18 would be widely accepted i believe, FIFA/UEFA can do what they want though, think there are bigger probelems facing football though

The age of majority wasn't an issue though when playing for any association at any level tied you to that association for good, was it? Or is that part of the reason why they introduced an age cap previously at 21 before abolishing it?

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ne...-16043285.html

Lovely.

Monumental non-story. Posts from internet warriors on message boards do not count as threats.

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In a chilling reminder of the sectarian campaign aimed at Celtic boss Neil Lennon

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Yes, it's exactly the same.

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Originally Posted by bwagner

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ne...-16043285.html

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What has this got to do with the eligibility issue?

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

What has this got to do with the eligibility issue?

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God there is always one isnt there.

Who gives a fuk

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Originally Posted by bwagner

Who gives a fuk

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Presumably you do - that's why you posted the link.

What I'm wondering is what it has to do with the eligibility debate?

It has nothing to do with anything because it's a nonsense story to begin with.

Is it going to destroy the world as we know it, it has plenty to do with catholic players playing for their country and not a pub team. incidents like this only push them even more into republic hands

BW is right.
Shows them in their true colours.

Paranoid bigots, 'innit'.

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Originally Posted by bwagner

Is it going to destroy the world as we know it, it has plenty to do with catholic players playing for their country and not a pub team. incidents like this only push them even more into republic hands

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I don't know what a couple of bigoted Rangers fans on an unofficial Rangers fans' site has got to do with "catholic players playing for their country", or how it will "push them even more into republic hands".

On the issue of "catholic" players playing for Northern Ireland, it was pleasing to see Celtic shareholder and journalist, Hugh Jordan, sing the praises of Northern Ireland fans in relation to their support for Paddy McCourt, on UTV News last night.

The cesspit of sectarianism that is the OF has no bearing on eligibility for international sides.

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Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

Shows them in their true colours.

Paranoid bigots, 'innit'.

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The article posted by bwagner highlights three comments from Rangers supporters on an unofficial Rangers fans' website - it shows the two or three posters involved in "their true colours".
Sadly, such people see being labeled as a sectarian bigot as some kind of honour.

I would bet big money that those posters wouldn't be very theologically bright.

The article in no way adds to a debate on eligibility.

Brazil i wasnt trying to upset anyone here but come on there are some serious sectarian crap inbedded in a lot of loyalist people, I know catholics can be as bad but stuff like this will sway young footballers mind to play south.

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Originally Posted by bwagner

Brazil i wasnt trying to upset anyone here but come on there are some serious sectarian crap inbedded in a lot of loyalist people, I know catholics can be as bad but stuff like this will sway young footballers mind to play south.

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I'm not "upset" bwagner, I just fail to see the relevance of OF based sectarianism to a debate on international eligibility.

Indeed - sadly, there are a lot of sectarian bigots on both sides of the divide.

I don't believe a few ****s on an unofficial Rangers fans site, spilling their sectarian bile, will have any bearing whatsoever on where players play their international football.

Sectarian bile is par for the course for the OF.

On the contrary, I feel that the support afforded to the likes of Paddy McCourt by Northern Ireland fans might act as a positive influence regarding "nationalist" players choice of international career.