NI boss targets Republic's Gibson

[lopez]

Lopez

I have actually seen the Wales passport. It's like a British Passport only with an inside page indicating the person is from Wales and I think Wales is there in Welsh into the bargain. I don't know if they are standard issue but the point is they can be got.

Effectively it's a British passport in a the Welsh language. The person is still British no matter how you dress it up (and the best way to dress it up is to stick this document in a £4.99 pvc holder claiming the passport is indeed of a country that doesn't exist).

Do you want one?

Can I have one in my own indigenous tongue, cockney rhyming slang. Aye'd Tom Clancy a crown court with a bit a rabbit and pork inside.

And...if they don't want to play, we don't want them.

How many underage players have left the IFA setup to join the FAI setup to date?

Is it still in single figures?

The "Irish Citizens" in the Northern Ireland Under 16 team who defeated the Republic Of Ireland recently must have missed out on your thoughts.

LOFL. Oh the 'we don't care' argument. Yeah this 'defection' is so small - one senior player since 1950 - that it takes up, what is it now?, over a hudred pages on ourweeminds. Obviously one person wanting a united Ireland, one person considering his capital as Dublin, and his team as NOT the one that stands for an anthem about a German is too much for the IFA.

There is no way that the IFA would waste it's time if it was just down to the pittiless figures of players from the O6C that have represented Ireland at senior level, ones that you claim you don't want anyway. Why bother? Dress it up as much as you like, but this is an ideological fight to prevent people playing for THEIR country and forcing them to play for another country that represents everything they resent. ie. British rule.

As someone has already stated, you should be looking after the players who DO want to play for you, whether they are Catholic, Protestant or those that have just got British citizenship though born overseas, even if their passport is in Welsh, Gallic or Cockney Rhyming Slang.

And nice to see you are happy about the nationalists in your side. A team that probably has a majority of Sinn Fein voters must really p*ss off a chunky section of your support.

As for Absinthe: Cead mille failte, but I think you've drinking too much of it. Try it without the Laudanum in future. I like your equation of Czechoslovakia with Ireland under British rule. It's like comparing a divorcing couple remaining friends with an escaping sex slave from an abusive husband who took her out of her cage only when he wanted to rape her.

[CollegeTillIDie]

As for Absinthe: Cead mille failte, but I think you've drinking too much of it. Try it without the Laudanum in future. I like your equation of Czechoslovakia with Ireland under British rule. It's like comparing a divorcing couple remaining friends with an escaping sex slave from an abusive husband who took her out of her cage only when he wanted to rape her.

Czechoslovakia , with the Slovaks ruled more or less by the Czechs, was more like Scotland being ruled by Ireland for a while after being ruled by England for hundreds of years. Slovaks and Czechs have a cultural affinity akin to ours with the Scots.

[Not Brazil]

[B lopez; this is an ideological fight to prevent people playing for THEIR country and forcing them to play for another country that represents everything they resent. ie. British rule.

As someone has already stated, you should be looking after the players who DO want to play for you, whether they are Catholic, Protestant or those that have just got British citizenship though born overseas, even if their passport is in Welsh, Gallic or Cockney Rhyming Slang.

And nice to see you are happy about the nationalists in your side. A team that probably has a majority of Sinn Fein voters must really p*ss off a chunky section of your support.[/B]

What part of "you cannot force a player to play for anybody they don't want to play for" are you struggling with?

This is about clarifying FIFA rules (obviously there is confusion), and making sure they are adhered to.

Who cares what party a player votes for? Who knows what party a player votes for?

Would players playing their club football in England even vote for parties in Ireland? I don't know, and I don't care.

The only thing that matters is that the player WANTS to play for Northern Ireland, and gives the shirt 100%.

If he does, regardless of any other factor, he will receive total support from Northern Ireland fans.

I would have thought that the fact that "nationalists" play for Northern Ireland teams at all age levels must really p*ss off a chunky section of SF's support.

The fact that our representative teams are, always were and always will be "cross community", is something that I cherish.

[co. down green]

I would have thought that the fact that "nationalists" play for Northern Ireland teams at all age levels must really p*ss off a chunky section of SF's support.

Not sure why you single out Sinn Fein, both Nationalist parties in the North are prepared to challenge any attemps by the IFA to block Irish players from representing their country in the future.

The SDLP spokesman on the issue pat Ramsey MLA, is clear about his parties support and has said as much in their letter to FIFA president Sepp latter.

It would seem ludicrous that an Irish citizen born anywhere in the world would have an entitlement to play for the Irish team, but that a citizen from my own city of Derry could not.

The SDLP recognises that unionist people see Northern Ireland as a country and, from their point of view, it makes logical sense for Northern Ireland to have its own team. However, for Irish nationalists, and it is a fact, Northern Ireland is a state rather than a nation or country and therefore its football team is not seen, by Irish nationalists, as a national team. Given the Irish constitution, which formally recognises the Irish citizenship of people born in Northern Ireland, Irish nationalists see the Republic of Ireland team as the national team and many would opt to play for the Republic’s team.

http://oneteaminireland.bravehost.com/259.html

The department of foreign affairs may have a big part to play over the coming months.

[HolylandsMan]

The department of foreign affairs may have a big part to play over the coming months.

Hopefully. Because God knows I don't trust the FAI to deal effectively with this one.

To me, the issue is simple. I live in Co. Armagh. I have one nationality - Irish. I don't have a "complicated identity" or"dual nationality". I am an Irishman with an Irish passport born in Ireland who considers Dublin my capital, the Irish tricolour my flag and Amhrán na bhFiann my national anthem. To force people like me no option but to play for the farcicial entity that is Northern Ireland is nothing short of a disgrace and its up to the FAI and the Irish government to ensure that the choose to be recognised as Irish in all realm of life, including international football, remains open to all those born in Ireland.

[Not Brazil]

Not sure why you single out Sinn Fein, both Nationalist parties in the North are prepared to challenge any attemps by the IFA to block Irish players from representing their country in the future.

It was lopez who singled SF out.

It would be FIFA making decisions on who plays where, not the IFA.

[SuperDave]

Hopefully. Because God knows I don't trust the FAI to deal effectively with this one.

To me, the issue is simple. I live in Co. Armagh. I have one nationality - Irish. I don't have a "complicated identity" or"dual nationality". I am an Irishman with an Irish passport born in Ireland who considers Dublin my capital, the Irish tricolour my flag and Amhrán na bhFiann my national anthem. To force people like me no option but to play for the farcicial entity that is Northern Ireland is nothing short of a disgrace and its up to the FAI and the Irish government to ensure that the choose to be recognised as Irish in all realm of life, including international football, remains open to all those born in Ireland.

but would you not say you were at least happy when david healy scored against spain, or against england. I'm from Co. Tyrone and I know although I am a block booker for the FAI, I still like to see norn iron do well. Just that if I had a choice as a pro footballer I would probably play for the republic, but if I didn't I could live with it. Not saying that is right from a constitutional point of view, but i'm not that twisted that I actively will norn iron to lose.

dermot ahern should write a strongly worded letter to fifa, after getting the legal advice of the attorney general, regarding this breach of our sovereignty. and sepp blatter needs to be made aware that said annex applies to home nations, and ireland was never a home nation, so it shouldn't affect us.

[geysir]

Anybody care to open a book on the FIFA judgement?

Considering that the BBC, the Indo, Belfast Tel and a hundred other media outlets have announced that FIFA have already ruled in favour of the IFA, would anybody care to offer 50/1 that FIFA will not make a change to their interpretation of the rules that allow for example the likes of Alex Bruce and Michael O'Connor to play for Ireland?

[lopez]

What part of "you cannot force a player to play for anybody they don't want to play for" are you struggling with?

I'm having a problem with the 'we don't want any player who doesn't want to play with us' line on the one hand, and the fact that you are preventing these players playing for their country, i.e. the one they have ctizenship of although I'd go further and say it was the one they were born in. Because less face it, Northern Ireland isn't a country is it? I mean are you trying to say that what is the six counties is a country in the sense that the vast majority of the world would consider it?

If any player didn't want to play for Ireland I'd say good luck. Even if he was born in Ireland. Trouble is you just can't let go. And don't give me this FIFA rulling b*llocks. It's the IFA that have dragged this up. FIFA were happy to let things stand previously at what they were. Pretty sad really for, what is by your own admission, so far just one player.

[kingdomkerry]

What i want to know is are the fai going to stand up for the rights of irish people in the six counties so they can choose to play for ireland if they wish to do so.

Even if it means court??

[youngirish]

The fact that our representative teams are, always were and always will be "cross community", is something that I cherish.

Northern Ireland. A team with GSTQ as the national anthem. That uses a St George's cross as a flag. Has a history of accomodating a hardline secterian element amongst it's fans. This is a team that you state is, always was and always will be representative of the "cross community".

C'mon Not Brazil. Is this statement for real or a wind-up? I suppose the Nazis were representative of a "cross community" political party also were they? Don't be ridiculous.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Northern Ireland. A team with GSTQ as the national anthem? That uses a St George's cross as a flag. Has a history of accomodating a hardline secterian element amongst it's fans. This is a team that you state is, always was and always will be representative of the "cross community".

C'mon Not Brazil. Is this statement for real or a wind-up? I suppose the Nazis were representative of a "cross community" political party also were they? Don't be ridiculous.

Someones Wumming here alright.

[youngirish]

Someones Wumming here alright.

Yeah I'm wumming okay. Sorry Lionel I stand corrected the Northern Ireland football team has and always will be equally representative of both the Nationalist and Unionist peoples of the province. It's an all inclusive organisation that spreads peace and love to all and makes the world a better place to live in.

If you love the North and their fans so much (and I can tell you do from your numerous postings on these matters) why don't you go and support them instead of posting your unique brand of misguided PC blandness on these forums.

Yawn. Never, ever Lionel form an opinion that might offend a group of people no matter how in the wrong they are. That would be a bad thing.

[gustavo]

Yeah I'm wumming okay. Sorry Lionel I stand corrected the Northern Ireland football team has and always will be equally representative of both the Nationalist and Unionist peoples of the province. It's an all inclusive organisation that spreads peace and love to all and makes the world a better place to live in.

If you love the North and their fans so much (and I can tell you do from your numerous postings on these matters) why don't you go and support them instead of posting your unique brand of misguided PC blandness on these forums.

Yawn. Never, ever Lionel form an opinion that might offend a group of people no matter how in the wrong they are. That would be a bad thing.

What I'm guessing Not Brazil meant is that teams from NI have generally been made up of players from both sides of the community but I suppose you decided to twist what he meant in order to have a cheap dig.

[paul_oshea]

What I'm guessing Not Brazil meant is that teams from NI have generally been made up of players from both sides of the community but I suppose you decided to twist what he meant in order to have a cheap dig.

Yes thats what he meant, even if it were eyes half closed....

[Not Brazil]

What I'm guessing Not Brazil meant is that teams from NI have generally been made up of players from both sides of the community but I suppose you decided to twist what he meant in order to have a cheap dig.

I thought I was quite clear in what I said.

"The fact that our representative teams are, always were and always will be "cross community", is something that I cherish"

It's a mere statement of fact.

[Not Brazil]

Yawn. Never, ever Lionel form an opinion that might offend a group of people no matter how in the wrong they are. That would be a bad thing.

Had you a particular "group of people" in mind, and would you care to point out what you mean by "wrong"?

[Blanchflower]

To me, the issue is simple. I live in Co. Armagh. I have one nationality - Irish. I don't have a "complicated identity" or"dual nationality". I am an Irishman with an Irish passport born in Ireland who considers Dublin my capital, the Irish tricolour my flag and Amhrán na bhFiann my national anthem.

Well, congratulations, but your "considerations" are unlikely to be at the forefront of FIFA's rule-makers' thinking. Regardless of your considerations, Co. Armagh is in Northern Ireland, not the Republic.

To force people like me no option but to play for the farcicial entity that is Northern Ireland is nothing short of a disgrace and its up to the FAI and the Irish government to ensure that the choose to be recognised as Irish in all realm of life, including international football, remains open to all those born in Ireland.

Not being eligible to play professional football for the ROI does not mean you aren't Irish!

I'm having a problem with the 'we don't want any player who doesn't want to play with us' line on the one hand, and the fact that you are preventing these players playing for their country, i.e. the one they have ctizenship of although I'd go further and say it was the one they were born in. Because less face it, Northern Ireland isn't a country is it? I mean are you trying to say that what is the six counties is a country in the sense that the vast majority of the world would consider it?

Well, it's a country for the purposes of international football, which is what we're talking about! And it's a bit of a stretch to claim that someone born in NI was actually born in ROI!

What i want to know is are the fai going to stand up for the rights of irish people in the six counties so they can choose to play for ireland if they wish to do so.

Even if it means court??

What rights?

What court? On what grounds?

[SuperDave]

can you believe this thread has made 1000 posts?

[geysir]

Well, congratulations, but your "considerations" are unlikely to be at the forefront of FIFA's rule-makers' thinking. Regardless of your considerations, Co. Armagh is in Northern Ireland, not the Republic.

No shít, we have a smug map reader who has a turn at reading FIFA minds.
FIFA's rules on eligibility are very player's rights orientated. They have been quite happy to allow Bruce and O'Connor declare for Ireland. FIFA's legal department were fully satisfied that the FIFA rules were being fully complied with.
The FIFA legal department were fully satisfied that a NI born Irish citizen was 100% Irish and entitled to play for Ireland.
In October 2006 FIFA Legal head confirmed this.
What's your point? The IFA have appealed for the 2nd or 3rd time. We are waiting for the decision.