Eligibility Rules, Okay

[Adrock]

Footballers arent renowned for their strong political convictions and I can easily see it becoming a case of northern born players opting to represent the South purely for the greater potential of qualifying for a major tournament, regardless of their religious background if this is already not the case. Similar to for instance Morgan and Joyce opting to play for England cricket team.
You can understand their frustrations because FIFA's ruling and that of the CAS has effectively doomed Northern Ireland to forever more just be footballing minnows.
Its sad when you think of what they acheived in the 80's getting to 2 world cups with all locally born players, but Worthington and the IFA, BT etc are just going to have to accept the new reality instead of bleeting about it every single time a player defects and coming out with the usual 'something needs to be done about this', because their fate's already been sealed, there's nothing they can do about it short of getting the UK government or the EU to make us change our constitution as a clause of the next economic bailout agreement!

[Predator]

Footballers arent renowned for their strong political convictions and I can easily see it becoming a case of northern born players opting to represent the South purely for the greater potential of qualifying for a major tournament, regardless of their religious background if this is already not the case. Similar to for instance Morgan and Joyce opting to play for England cricket team.

Possibly, but ultimately the reasons that have been given thus far have been simply because the players would rather represent their country.

You can understand their frustrations because FIFA's ruling and that of the CAS has effectively doomed Northern Ireland to forever more just be footballing minnows.
Its sad when you think of what they acheived in the 80's getting to 2 world cups with all locally born players, but Worthington and the IFA, BT etc are just going to have to accept the new reality instead of bleeting about it every single time a player defects and coming out with the usual 'something needs to be done about this', because their fate's already been sealed, there's nothing they can do about it short of getting the UK government or the EU to make us change our constitution as a clause of the next economic bailout agreement!

I strongly agree that there needs to be an acceptance of the reality, but none seems to be forthcoming. Nigel Worthington stated in an interview that "Northern Ireland people" don't give up, so it seems like it will remain an issue until those who don't want Irish nationals playing for the FAI get their way.

[Sullivinho]

Footballers arent renowned for their strong political convictions and I can easily see it becoming a case of northern born players opting to represent the South purely for the greater potential of qualifying for a major tournament, regardless of their religious background if this is already not the case. Similar to for instance Morgan and Joyce opting to play for England cricket team.

I can see it being a consideration at a certain level of maturity alright but these guys will presumably have years of watching and supporting Ireland behind them before even comprehending such things as political conviction and professional ambition. Sense of identity would surely boast longer establishment than both. It seems to me that these players were content to be involved with the IFA setup but the tangible prospect of playing for Ireland stoked the very same enthusiasm you or I would feel if the FAI were to call and request (or in Don Given's case, demand) our shirt and boot size. I imagine qualifying for a major tournament would be something of an afterthought to the delight of playing for your country.

Nigel Worthington stated in an interview that "Northern Ireland people" don't give up, so it seems like it will remain an issue until those who don't want Irish nationals playing for the FAI get their way.

Unless one is suitably wild in their optimism or enjoying the sanctuary of delusion, that must be quite the depressing ambition to be burdened with, such is it's terminal improbability.

[DannyInvincible]

Thankfully somebody has decided to put together a list of names of those not interested in representing the FAI.

http://www.petitiononline.co.uk/peti...sociation/2873

Contrary to the opening suggestion, the Nations Cup hasn't brought any new issues to the fore. If NI fans were to be consistent, they'd be boycotting all FIFA competition games; not just a friendly game against Ireland.

[I]t should be noted that an informal pre-existing boycott was already in place, with many supporters, including some who have followed the team to South America, the United States, the Caribbean and the farthest corners of Europe, refusing to make the short trip to Dublin to watch our team. The primary reason for this boycott is the increasing selection of Northern Ireland born or capped players by the FAI, despite their already representing Northern Ireland at all levels up to, and now including, full international.

Not true. Some on OWC were embarrassed to call it a boycott as it gave the impression that the protest actually had mass support. The reality is that the notion of not attending was only entertained by very much a minority of independent individuals. I believe over 6,000 NI fans were still planning on attending until the IFA announced its travel and security plans.

The time has come for the IFA to make a stand against this practice...

They went to CAS; it didn't work. Either petition FIFA or accept reality.

...if it continues the very existence of the association and the international team is endangered.

Usual hyperbole. Even if all nationalists were to refuse to play for NI - which isn't likely - there'll never be any problem whatsoever finding eleven willing players to line out for the IFA.

FIFA’s ruling on player eligibility was challenged by the association

It wasn't a "ruling". It's important that the peddling of this notion is countered as it could easily imply FIFA behaved arbitrarily or something. It was and is a long-standing rule. Neither is it a loophole as is so commonly insinuated.

The FAI’s shameless exploitation of this rule to the detriment of Northern Ireland teams, and the public statements of its officials vowing to continue and expand this practice, makes cordial relations between the two associations impossible.

Shameless exploitation of a rule? Aye, like what's the point in even having rules sure?

Rules permit certain action; action that would have rules constructed to prevent it if it was felt the action was in some way transgressive. The FAI and certain northern-born Irish nationals benefit from these rules by engaging in such action. Nothing shameless or underhand about it. FIFA have had ample opportunity to amend their rules if they felt they needed amendment. Besides, one could challenge this emotional dross with similar by arguing that the FAI are behaving in a noble manner to facilitate a young Irishman from north of the border realise the dream of playing for his country. Nothing sectarian about it either; that really is a bizarre accusation to level when you think about it. The "practice" can only be expanded - that doesn't even really make sense in the context - in so far as northern-born players are prepared to declare for the FAI.

To those players considering switching allegiance, however, we say this: please do not accept a call-up from the IFA unless it is your intention to play for Northern Ireland.

Subtle insight into the mindset there. If northern-born players are yet to play for NI but decide to play for Ireland, they're not switching allegiance. They're declaring for their country.

waste the scarce resources of the IFA

Resources also contributed to by the nationalist tax-payer? Besides, when young players are called into an under-age team, they're already offering something back to the association by way of their services on the pitch. There's more to the IFA than merely senior international football.

This amounts to, in essence, the reintroduction of the gentleman’s agreement which existed for over fifty years and worked to the mutual benefit of both associations.

There was no gentleman's agreement. CAS cleared that up. FIFA merely insisted that the IFA not select southern-born players at the time; around 1950. For this there is evidence. There is no evidence, however, to suggest that FIFA ever issued the FAI with instruction not to select northern-born players. If there was any agreement between the two associations, it was when Jim Boyce accepted that the FAI could call up northern-born players in 1999 and Bernard O'Byrne agreed that the FAI would only call up those who volunteered their services or, in effect, made first contact.

Edit: And, just to add, the IFA taking the FAI to CAS could be rightfully deemed a severe breach of such an agreement. In light of this, there is no reason why the FAI shouldn't communicate with northern-born players prior to them volunteering.

[DannyInvincible]

Footballers arent renowned for their strong political convictions and I can easily see it becoming a case of northern born players opting to represent the South purely for the greater potential of qualifying for a major tournament, regardless of their religious background if this is already not the case. Similar to for instance Morgan and Joyce opting to play for England cricket team.

Hmm, I dunno. I think identity is very important to people in the north due to the history of the place.

[Sullivinho]

Danny, I strongly advocate a blowing of cover and posting your analysis of the 'Hopin' letter to the Irish Football Association' on 'OWC'. Lurker accounts are a dime a dozen but that kind of clarification is rare.

[ArdeeBhoy]

An admirable thought, but his dispatches from behind OWB lines are priceless.....

[Adrock]

Hmm, I dunno. I think identity is very important to people in the north due to the history of the place.

True but in sporting terms I think identity can be more fluid in accordance with sporting ambition, as you can see with say Wayne mccullough from Shankhill ending up carrying the irish tricolor at the olympics. I dont think you can argue Mccullough is a republican by any definition but in sporting terms Irish amateur boxing means Republic of Ireland in olympic competition and he wasnt going to deny himself an Olympic medal for the sake of political or religious sceptecism.
Similarly I dont think based on the current trend Northern ireland are likely to ever qualify for a world cup again (going from slim to none) so the more players that do defect the more tempting it is going to be for other players coming through to follow the same path.

[Mr_Parker]

This is a cracker from Worthington!

“If you are born in the country you should be representing that country,” said Worthington.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sp...#ixzz1MzC3GFYR

[Adrock]

This is a cracker from Worthington!

“If you are born in the country you should be representing that country,” said Worthington.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sp...#ixzz1MzC3GFYR

Like Maik taylor or Lee Camp for instance, good call!

[co. down green]

This is a cracker from Worthington!

“If you are born in the country you should be representing that country,” said Worthington.

Nigel must have missed this map of current IFA internationals

[Sullivinho]

“If you are born in the country you should be representing that country,” said Worthington.

[Park_Lane]

Nigel must have missed this map of current IFA internationals

Some top, top players on that map. NI will be fine without Gibson, Wilson, Duffy etc

[Adrock]

Nigel must have missed this map of current IFA internationals

Wow, youve got to stay we definitely get a better class of plastic

[BonnieShels]

Yeah, sure everybody knows the FAI hates Cork people, not protestants!

They don't hate them, they just don't give a sh1te about them.

[co. down green]

Worthington getting desperate now Can't have another West Belfast lad going to the 'dark side' lol

http://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/page...364122,00.html

[ArdeeBhoy]

Sure, there's nothing like Hypocrisy....

[Not Brazil]

Worthington getting desperate now Can't have another West Belfast lad going to the 'dark side' lol

http://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/page...364122,00.html

Excellent prospect.

The call up will do the kid no harm whatsoever.

Carl is a product of the Linfield Academy.

His twin brother, Jude, is still at Linfield and is rated by some as a potentially better prospect than Carl.

[co. down green]

Excellent prospect.

The call up will do the kid no harm whatsoever.

Carl is a product of the Linfield Academy.

As was Daniel Devine

[Not Brazil]

As was Daniel Devine

That's correct - some ignorant ROI fans thought he was from a "unionist background" because he played for Linfield.