Player eligibility row

**seanfhear** · 25/04/2010, 10:50 AM

To counteract the complaint that the FAI are poaching players that the IFA have spent time and money developing I believe that the FAI should be allowed to recruit players from the North at the same age that they are allowed to on the rest of the island. This would at least put an end to the complaint of the IFA wasting their time and money on players that do not want to play for them.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 25/04/2010, 2:33 PM

Originally Posted by Gather round

It represents two separate countries, so fragmenting into two teams makes perfect sense.

Ha ha. Think the rugby & cricket will always rightly ridicule such a nonsensical stance!
As I say, it's only the soccer where such paranoid f*ckwittery exists.

**third policeman** · 25/04/2010, 3:30 PM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

Ha ha. Think the rugby & cricket will always rightly ridicule such a nonsensical stance!
As I say, it's only the soccer where such paranoid f*ckwittery exists.

Agree. GR is talking through his arse to state that ROI and NI are "seperate countries." NI is not a country, it is a "province" of the UK and by his rather flexible logic therefore is not entitled to an international team in any sport including soccer.

**DannyInvincible** · 25/04/2010, 3:30 PM

Originally Posted by seanfhear

To counteract the complaint that the FAI are poaching players that the IFA have spent time and money developing I believe that the FAI should be allowed to recruit players from the North at the same age that they are allowed to on the rest of the island.

Can the FAI not do this anyway outside of schoolboy internationals?

**ArdeeBhoy** · 25/04/2010, 3:46 PM

Originally Posted by awec

Funnily enough, I've been criticised for singing "Ireland's call" at the rugby, recieved dirty looks after people hear my Northern accent for not singing the Soldiers song (I stand, I'm quiet and I respect it, seem some can't respect my choice not to sing it) and I've heard the old "Ireland's call shouldnt be sung, it's a disgrace, only in there to appease those northern <insert expletive here>."

If these problems exist in Rugby, then they'd be far greatly magnified in football and I can't ever see there being an all ireland football team for a long time.

Fair play;Personally, no problems with SS & The Sash if it really is an issue. As for those regarding the football team, these are largely to do with unionist paranoia (by some, but not all of that tradition).

**seanfhear** · 25/04/2010, 3:47 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Can the FAI not do this anyway outside of schoolboy internationals?

I suppose as things stand at the moment they could do but they have not started to do it.

If they did it would put a stop to the IFA complaining about putting money and time into players that do not want to play for them.

**Gather round** · 25/04/2010, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by third policeman

Agree. GR is talking through his arse to state that ROI and NI are "seperate countries." NI is not a country, it is a "province" of the UK and by his rather flexible logic therefore is not entitled to an international team in any sport including soccer

Evening TP. Last time I looked, there was a pretty obvious- and inflexible- border between the two. But you pretend otherwise if it suits you.

**Serb** · 26/04/2010, 12:06 AM

Originally Posted by third policeman

Agree. GR is talking through his arse to state that ROI and NI are "seperate countries." NI is not a country, it is a "province" of the UK and by his rather flexible logic therefore is not entitled to an international team in any sport including soccer.

Northern Ireland is as much a country as Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales are. But I don't think you're being serious in this post? It's times like this the SarcMark would come in handy

**ArdeeBhoy** · 26/04/2010, 12:29 AM

Clearly you've not passed between the two recently;the 'border' is virtually non-existent. Only the road signs and odd flags would indicate any difference....

And to emphasise TP is relatively correct, politically there are no such countries as England, Scotland or Wales (Constituent parts of Britain), not mention any colonial rump that makes up the entity of 'Uk'....
Suggest you buy an atlas or check the U.N's list of accredited countries, unless of course you wish to 'pretend otherwise'. That is of course presuming the last two posts were 'serious' ??

**Charlie Darwin** · 26/04/2010, 1:07 AM

I'm probably boring you all, but as a political science graduate, I should probably point out that "country" and "state" are not strictly interchangeable terms, and that by most agreed definitions Northern Ireland is a country within a state. The United Kingdom is very unusual in that sense (as is Ireland).

**ArdeeBhoy** · 26/04/2010, 9:26 AM

Fair enough CD, but to most mere mortals a country is a state.
And don't see why we should especially accomodate England/Britain's "empire" to confirm their rather odd status.

**DannyInvincible** · 26/04/2010, 3:30 PM

Originally Posted by seanfhear

I suppose as things stand at the moment they could do but they have not started to do it.

If they did it would put a stop to the IFA complaining about putting money and time into players that do not want to play for them.

Certainly can't argue with that. Whilst the FAI are not behaving contrary to the rules of the game, it is undoubtedly more satisfying and rewarding when you can boast of having brought your players through your own international ranks. Would the FAI be permitted to set up training camps in the north? Would those NI fans who have no problem with players from the north playing for Ireland, just so long as they don't involve themselves in the Northern Ireland set-up at any level, have any problem with the FAI potentially doing this?

**seanfhear** · 26/04/2010, 4:13 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Certainly can't argue with that. Whilst the FAI are not behaving contrary to the rules of the game, it is undoubtedly more satisfying and rewarding when you can boast of having brought your players through your own international ranks. Would the FAI be permitted to set up training camps in the north? Would those NI fans who have no problem with players from the north playing for Ireland, just so long as they don't involve themselves in the Northern Ireland set-up at any level, have any problem with the FAI potentially doing this?

Realistically it is the only way to go as it will put an end to the carping from some quarters about the time and effort they are putting in to players that do not want to play for them.

**Gather round** · 26/04/2010, 4:42 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Would those NI fans who have no problem with players from the north playing for Ireland, just so long as they don't involve themselves in the Northern Ireland set-up at any level, have any problem with the FAI potentially doing this?

No, go ahead. I'm assuming you you have similar plans for England?

**DannyInvincible** · 26/04/2010, 5:27 PM

Originally Posted by Gather round

No, go ahead. I'm assuming you you have similar plans for England?

The recruitment of English-born players by the FAI is not a major source of tension with the English FA, though. The point of such an endeavour, as a unique once-off initiative in international football and more important than maintaining some consistent policy of recruitment beyond the Irish state's borders, would be for it to represent a voluntary gesture on behalf of the FAI demonstrating their willingness to maintain good neighbourly relations.

**geysir** · 26/04/2010, 5:45 PM

Originally Posted by seanfhear

Realistically it is the only way to go as it will put an end to the carping from some quarters about the time and effort they are putting in to players that do not want to play for them.

Let them carp.
Doesn't bother me in the slightest. Probably feel better knowing they are carping.
Cherry picking some will do grand for now.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 26/04/2010, 6:07 PM

Aye, Hypocrisy is their middle name. Coming after Paranoia.

**Predator** · 27/04/2010, 12:34 PM

Read in the papers today that Duffy has not yet received clearance to play in the friendlies and again it was hinted that the CAS case had something to do with it. Would there be restrictions placed on players who want to make the switch?

**TrapAPony** · 27/04/2010, 1:19 PM

Originally Posted by Predator

Read in the papers today that Duffy has not yet received clearance to play in the friendlies and again it was hinted that the CAS case had something to do with it. Would there be restrictions placed on players who want to make the switch?

His dad is from Donegal which makes him perfectly entitled to play for us. What's the problem?

**Predator** · 27/04/2010, 1:25 PM

Even if his dad wasn't from Donegal, he'd be perfectly entitled to play

I don't think there is a problem with his eligibility, but as has been discussed earlier in the thread, it's either a case of it normally taking a bit of time, or as the papers suggest, FIFA have placed restrictions on players changing until the CAS case is closed.