Should this forum not be called

**nifan** · 07/01/2004, 3:52 PM

National TeamS, seeing as how Ireland has two - the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland?

**tiktok** · 07/01/2004, 3:56 PM

There's already a Northern Ireland International Team forum....

Forums/Other Stuff/Rubbish

**nifan** · 08/01/2004, 12:40 PM

Sure there is no football team called Ireland

- so it must be referring to both teams

**S�C** · 08/01/2004, 2:10 PM

Then again there is no Country called Ireland.

A National called Ireland/�ire

Two States called the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

**�anna** · 08/01/2004, 6:12 PM

There is a country (Ireland) and people fromm all 32 counties of it can play for its national team. A section of that is occupied by Britain and has its own puppet representative team, which doesn't even have its own anthem

**nifan** · 09/01/2004, 10:17 AM

Originally posted by �anna
There is a country (Ireland) and people fromm all 32 counties of it can play for its national team. A section of that is occupied by Britain and has its own puppet representative team, which doesn't even have its own anthem

I was only having a joke, but if you are going to be barbed about it - check the Fifa rules. Neither us or you are permitted to call our team Ireland. Whether you agree with it or not that is FIFAs ruling.

And what does puppet representative team mean.

**�anna** · 09/01/2004, 10:34 AM

Wasn't trying to be barbed, just calling it as I see it. And to be perfectly frank, its not FIFA's call to tell anyone what to call their country. Simple fact of the matter is the team FIFA call the Republic of Ireland DOES represent the whole of Ireland, because anyone born on this island can play for the team, thus the team is IRELAND. Simple enough really.

What I mean by puppet representative team is the team representing an artificial state which was set up to appease a minority section of the population of Ireland, which has no historical basis, no anthem and IMO no real basis for existing.

**tiktok** · 09/01/2004, 10:49 AM

Originally posted by nifan
And what does puppet representative team mean.

before this gets too serious

Muppet representative team?

**�anna** · 09/01/2004, 10:52 AM

Originally posted by tiktok
Muppet representative team?

**nifan** · 09/01/2004, 10:57 AM

The muppets are brilliant.

As for Eanna, I hate to bleat on about the GFA, but it ratifies our existence. You may not like it but its there, there where many parts I didnt like about it.

**�anna** · 09/01/2004, 11:20 AM

Originally posted by nifan
You may not like it but its there

yup, not gonna argue with ya there.

Its not really a thing against the 6 county team, it goes for Scotland and Wales as well to some extent. I just think the idea of subdividing countries for football is crazy. They're either countries or they're not

**nifan** · 09/01/2004, 11:40 AM

So you would prefer we were part of a UK team. I know I wouldnt. I am Northern Irish first and foremost.

**�anna** · 09/01/2004, 11:43 AM

Originally posted by nifan
So you would prefer we were part of a UK team. I know I wouldnt. I am Northern Irish first and foremost.

Its either Britain or its not.

Neil · 09/01/2004, 11:57 AM

Originally posted by tiktok
There's already a Northern Ireland International Team forum....

Forums/Other Stuff/Rubbish

They were beaten by Iceland there last month... their next game is against Tesco...

**nifan** · 09/01/2004, 12:32 PM

Originally posted by Neil

They were beaten by Iceland there last month... their next game is against Tesco...

Aye original, havent heard that before

Anyway - we beat Iceland the country 3-0 last time we played them

**gspain** · 09/01/2004, 1:04 PM

Originally posted by nifan
Aye original, havent heard that before

Anyway - we beat Iceland the country 3-0 last time we played them

3 own goals was it.

**frano** · 10/01/2004, 2:26 PM

Originally posted by nifan

Anyway - we beat Iceland the country 3-0 last time we played them

[/B]

Nifan, do yourself a favour mate, don't go down the road of defending NI's goal scoring record.
Jaysus, you might aswell **** in your sunday hat as do that.

Sorry mate, I'm just tryin to save you from yourself

**S�C** · 12/01/2004, 8:55 AM

The fact that people born in the North can play for the Republic is a non-football thing. The Irish Government accepts these people as Irish hence they can get a passport and play for the Republic. If the NI Assembly Government( if they had one) could pass a law saying anyone from the south who wanted to could get Northern Irish nationality (if such a thing exists) then any player from here could play with them.

Its all a bit sad really. I was reading on some NI fans forum that more and more players from a Nationalist/Republician back ground are opting not to play for the North now, they wont have many more O'Neills, Armstrongs, Quinns etc. A small country is losing 45% of their potential players.

**Duncan Gardner** · 12/01/2004, 9:04 AM

You seem to be confusing a few players from Northern Ireland declaring for the Republic's youth and U-21 teams, with the make-up of the full international side. Which has always included many from nationalist/ Catholic backgrounds. Messrs McVeigh, Mulryne, Johnson, Doherty etc. at present.

**S�C** · 12/01/2004, 11:20 AM

Originally posted by Duncan Gardner
You seem to be confusing a few players from Northern Ireland declaring for the Republic's youth and U-21 teams

No thats the point Im making, in the recent past these lads would have played for the North but are now choosing to play for the Republic unlike the players you listed. Just seems to be a trend of late.