Eligibility Rules, Okay

[ArdeeBhoy]

He's been posting on OWB regularly...

[Not Brazil]

'Freudian' slip, surely...

Probably brought to you by the same people who call the North, 'Ulster'?

Does Mr Brolly call it Ulster?

[Predator]

A bit more info on young Dale Gorman: http://borderireland.info/info/mdetail.php?mref=2547

I wonder, if he happens to improve, will he hold out for a call up from the FAI?

[ifk101]

Best of luck to young Gorman. I trust the compensation is in the post, although delivery by hand is preferable.

[DannyInvincible]

A bit more info on young Dale Gorman: http://borderireland.info/info/mdetail.php?mref=2547

I wonder, if he happens to improve, will he hold out for a call up from the FAI?

Irish FA chiefs have earned the cross-border bragging rights after claiming the first defection from the Republic to Northern Ireland.

Tony Kane, Michael O'Connor, Alex Bruce?

[DannyInvincible]

Gareth Fullerton responds to Joe Brolly's piece in the Derry Journal: http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/fo...ress_1_3445771

Brolly refers to young Catholic players having an Irish identity, therefore wanting to represent the Republic of Ireland – a valid and pertinent point that new Northern Ireland manager O’Neill will struggle to influence.

Sadly, the search for other salient points in Brolly’s column proves fruitless.

The inference that Northern Irish football remains covertly sectarian is a slur on the thousands of fans – both Protestant and Catholic – who flock to Windsor.

[Predator]

Tony Kane, Michael O'Connor, Alex Bruce?

Not to mention the other Gorman.

[DannyInvincible]

Not to mention the other Gorman.

And Ryan Brobbel.

[DannyInvincible]

According to Ciarán Ó Raghallaigh, McClean has formally requested to switch from the IFA to FAI and once FIFA ratify this request, he will be irreversibly tied in spite of not having yet played competitively for the FAI: http://ciarano.tumblr.com/post/16288...th-fifa-letter

Is this understanding correct?

I had the following exchange on Twitter:

You sure? Tony Kane/Michael O'Connor were able to switch back to IFA from FAI as they hadn't played competitively.

not 100% but I think Kane only played friendlies u-21 for ROI, also it was '07 I think? O'Connor the same, as far as I can remember. If they'd played competitive games for north, then ROI, couldn't change back.

You sure they didn't play comp. for NI before? Same for Bobby Zamora for England u-21s before switching to T&T and back to FA...

depends what age group, if they did. I don't have full history in front of me, but McClean story confirmed by FAI too.

Tony Kane played at under-18 and under-19 level for the IFA before switching to FAI. O'Connor played from under-17 to under-20 level before his switch. Zamora played for England at under-21 level before his switch to Trinidad & Tobago. What I don't know for certain is whether any of these appearances were in what would have been considered competitive fixtures. Ó Raghallaigh appears to think not, which distinguishes them from McClean's case. Out of interest, which fixtures for the IFA in which McClean participated were competitive?

[Predator]

There was a bit in the Sunday Times yesterday from Paul Rowan which said that Eunan O'Kane's switch was set in motion last July. O'Kane was hoping to join up with the U21 team. The next U21 competitive game is June against Italy, but if he did make the squad, it would be his only chance, because he'll be 22 in July.

For some strange reason O'Kane talked about how religion is irrelevant to him and that it was a football decision. It's almost as if he is afraid to say that he feels an affinity for the team. It's sad that he feels that he has to justify wanting to play for his country.

[ifk101]

Is this understanding correct?

To quote myself from page 1 of this thread

My understanding is that Clark is tied to us regardless if he plays a senior international or not. Once a player files and acknowledges a change of association it is irreversible. See the below extract from the Daniel Kearns' ruling.

II. BACKGROUND FACTS
II.1 Mr Kearns’ Request for a Change of Association
5. Mr Kearns was born on 26 August 1991 in Antrim, Northern Ireland. His parents
were also born in Northern Ireland and held passports of the Republic of Ireland at
the time of his birth.
6. It is undisputed that Mr Kearns has had dual British and Irish citizenship from
birth.
7. Mr Kearns was selected in several international matches for the U-15 and U-16
schoolboy teams of Northern Ireland as well as for the Northern Ireland U-17 and
U-19 teams. However, he has never played a match in an official competition at
“A” international level for the IFA.
8. On 11 August 2009, Mr Kearns filed an application before FIFA for a change of
association team, from the IFA to the FAI. On 2 November 2009, he confirmed to
FIFA his request, acknowledging the fact that such a change would be
irreversible.
9. On 3 November 2009 and in compliance with the applicable FIFA regulations, the
FAI submitted a formal request to FIFA for Mr Kearns’ change of association team.
It fulfilled all the administrative requirements at the latest by 21 December
2009.

[Gather round]

U21 team. The next U21 competitive game is June against Italy, but if he did make the squad, it would be his only chance, because he'll be 22 in July

Isn't the cut-off date 1 January in the calendar year which qualifying for an U-21 tournament starts? If so, anyone born in or after January 1990 is eligible to play in any qualifying or finals game for Euro 2013.

[DannyInvincible]

To quote myself from page 1 of this thread

Which games did Kearns play in for NI that were considered competitive?

[ifk101]

Which games did Kearns play in for NI that were considered competitive?

He played in uefa competition for the north. See below as an example. A few familar names in the line-up

http://en.archive.uefa.com/competiti...report=lu.html

[Predator]

Isn't the cut-off date 1 January in the calendar year which qualifying for an U-21 tournament starts? If so, anyone born in or after January 1990 is eligible to play in any qualifying or finals game for Euro 2013.

I think you're right. Sloppy of me.

[Charlie Darwin]

This one ticks all the boxes:

I refer to the article headlined 'IFA deny stalling McClean's switch to Republic' (Sport, January 19).I have observed with increasing levels of frustration this utterly unfair defection of players to the Republic that we, through the IFA, have helped developed, in some cases over many years.This article reports how 'upset' the FAI are over the length of time it is taking to process these defections. Well, my heart bleeds.It it is not the IFA that determines the timing of the process. The IFA is the Irish Football Association - not FIFA.The FAI clearly has no limit to its bare-faced cheek.Not content with poaching our players, they now complain that we aren't handing them over quick enough. I respect the right of an individual, who, by virtue of the Good Friday Agreement, is afforded the right to choose which passport they hold.However, this is a political statute, not a sporting one. FIFA's criteria for eligibility is clearly laid out and simply holding a passport is not one of them.And yet there is an exception made for players born in Northern Ireland.This is blatantly unfair.James McClean is a case in point. James has been quoted as saying "it has always been my dream to play for the Republic".If that is, indeed, the case, then why has he chosen to play for Northern Ireland for many years and now, at more than 20 years old, decided he wants to play for the Republic?ALAN CORBETTBangor, Co Down

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/op...#ixzz1kHu3fn4x

[Predator]

That could be any one of the nutters over at OWC.

"FIFA's criteria for eligibility is clearly laid out and simply holding a passport is not one of them."

He's right

[BonnieShels]

This one ticks all the boxes:


http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/op...#ixzz1kHu3fn4x

Although only January will we see a more misinformed piece of drivel this year published by the bt?

[geysir]

To quote myself from page 1 of this thread

You are quoting from a post of yours which was challenged by me at the time

'On 11 August 2009, Mr Kearns filed an application before FIFA for a change of
association team, from the IFA to the FAI. On 2 November 2009, he confirmed to
FIFA his request, acknowledging the fact that such a change would be
irreversible.'

Daniel Kearns acknowledged that such a change from the IFA to the FAI would be irreversible.
Nowhere does it state that requesting a transfer, or FIFA rubber stamp on that transfer request, effects the change.
One of the few facts we know about FIFA eligibility rules, is that capping a player has legal effect.

From that article on McClean's transfer request by a random person with random knowledge picked up from God knows where,
'When the Players’ Status Committee and the Dispute Resolution Chamber decide on his request he will be unable to play for the north again, even if Giovanni Trapattoni never picks him.'

This is repetition of the false/unproven assumption that FIFA granting a transfer request by a player to change from one association to another, effects the change from which there is no return.

[ifk101]

You are quoting from a post of yours which was challenged by me at the time, ....., a random person with random knowledge picked up from God knows where,

Exactly