Eligibility Rules, Okay

**Not Brazil** · 23/05/2012, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Fine, support perhaps not, but it would at least make those republicans and nationalists playing for NI a lot more comfortable.

Sounds good.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 23/05/2012, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Not Brazil

I had a quick glance at the website of the main Nationalist political party - the SDLP.

When was this?
10 years ago...

**ArdeeBhoy** · 23/05/2012, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

Fine, support perhaps not, but it would at least make those republicans and nationalists playing for NI a lot more comfortable.

Nationalists have played for the North as we all know, fair enough. But would be amazed if too many 'republicans' have, maybe further back...

**Closed Account** · 23/05/2012, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by Not Brazil

PS. Adam will be happy.

Good point, I'd suggest you all keep on topic or the whole thread might get binned.

Has everyone got a firm grasp of the eligibility rules yet

**ArdeeBhoy** · 23/05/2012, 11:04 AM

Ah, I thought that was a typo. Missing an 's'.

Though the whole eligibility thing is inherently related to politics. Why should that be a problem ?

**geysir** · 23/05/2012, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

A player would still be entitled to switch from the IFA to the FAI if he liked. (And from the FAI to the IFA if he liked; I don't think NB has any issue with players switching to the IFA after having first represented their association of preference, except for when that player is Alex Bruce.) NB wishes to put his faith in the honesty of players. They're asked to declare where their allegiance ultimately lies, they declare and, from there, the IFA decides if they're interested in selecting them. (Isn't that more or less what Bruce did though?) No need for any formal oath with quasi-legal/contractual obligations or anything. Of course, such a system would be vulnerable to bad faith,.....

If you regard it as a system, then it becomes a systematic approach to selecting players for international duty. It is not an informal wishy washy aspirational thing.
If a player who is sure, is selected over a player who isn't sure right now, then it is a system which is forcing a player to decide something the statute rules don't require him to decide right now, in order to play representative football.
Therefore, as it says in the advertisements, bla,,bla, bla .. 'this does not conflict with your statutory rights' - shouldn't it be contained in any system which is asking a dual national player to decide (right here right now) where his loyalty lies, contrary to his statute rights?

**The Fly** · 23/05/2012, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by Not Brazil

I'm not so sure there is such a thing as 'your typical NI fan' The Fly.

I meant in relation to this issue.

**Predator** · 23/05/2012, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by joe_denilson

Has everyone got a firm grasp of the eligibility rules yet

A question has arisen over the player eligibility for schoolboy teams. We have a new quandary to mull over.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 23/05/2012, 11:37 AM

You mean for DI to find an answer to...

**Not Brazil** · 23/05/2012, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by The Fly

I meant in relation to this issue.

No worries.

I cannot abide the "why don't they play for their own country?" brigade - their ignorance is endless.

To be fair, a few vociferous voices on OWC does not represent a broad spectrum of opinion.

**The Fly** · 23/05/2012, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by Not Brazil

Whatever changes were made, do you think many Nationalists/Republicans would have more of an affinity to the Northern Ireland team than to the Republic Of Ireland team?

I'm with DI on this - I genuinely believe that even if the Anthem and Flag were changed (something I would support!) for Northern Ireland games, that it would make little or no difference to the numbers of Nationalists/Republicans supporting Northern Ireland.

Agreed, at present it will make no discernible difference to supporter numbers. That will only be seen in the long-term, with future generations.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 23/05/2012, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by Not Brazil

I cannot abide the "why don't they play for their own country?" brigade - their ignorance is endless.

Fair enough. A lot of these 'kind' like to make a political issue of this btw.

To be fair, a few vociferous voices on OWC does not represent a broad spectrum of opinion.

So what does then?

**Not Brazil** · 23/05/2012, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by The Fly

Agreed, at present it will make no discernible difference to supporter numbers. That will only be seen in the long-term, with future generations.

Generations?

That's a bit of a blow for those that think there's a singular "United" Ireland team coming anytime soon.

I've always admired your realism Mr Fly.

**Predator** · 23/05/2012, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

You mean for DI to find an answer to...

Sure, DI can seek an answer if he so wishes. So can other posters. Maybe you'd like to find the answer?

**ArdeeBhoy** · 23/05/2012, 12:08 PM

That could also be read as their current fan base to be dwindling to be fair...

Edit to Predator.

No, don't have the time or inclination...

**The Fly** · 23/05/2012, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by Not Brazil

Generations?

Well I suppose if the IFA instituted such changes tomorrow, we could include the very young in such a test group. Up to, and including, P7?

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

No, don't have the time or inclination...

Have a go,.....please!

**paul_oshea** · 23/05/2012, 12:16 PM

I'm sure the very young would be influenced by their parents, its takes more than one generation, but I honestly believe that if all those changes came about you would be correct.

Unless of course something happens in the interim, but with immigration from other countries I'm sure that will dilute the whole United Ireland thing further anyway.