Eligibility Rules, Okay

[Not Brazil]

Quite a far fetched opinion you formed .....

You think it's "far fetched" that Gary would not wish to disclose his source or evidence to some random ROI fan on the Internet?

Right.

[Not Brazil]

I wouldn't dismiss accussations of players being forced or pressurised into playing for the FAI against their open free will so lightly.

Gary says he has such evidence. Page 123 of this thread

And I don't think Gary would dismiss such allegations lightly either.

As I stated - if he says he has evidence, then I'd be inclined to believe him.

If/When and how he discloses the source and evidence is entirely within his gift.

[ifk101]

You think it's "far fetched" that Gary would not wish to disclose his source or evidence to some random ROI fan on the Internet?

Gary had no problem in making the accussations. Yet was unwilling to follow through in backing them up. Wonder why?

Right.

Left?

And I don't think Gary would dismiss such allegations lightly either.

As I stated - if he says he has evidence, then I'd be inclined to believe him.

If/When and how he discloses the source and evidence is entirely within his gift.

Gary's playing to his audience.

[Not Brazil]

Gary had no problem in making the accussations. Yet was unwilling to follow through in backing them up. Wonder why?

Maybe he will back them up - when it suits him to do so, and to whom he wishes to do so?

If he's making it up, there's nothing for you to be getting exercised about.

[Predator]

Maybe he will back them up - when it suits him to do so, and to whom he wishes to do so?

So, basically, the alleged victim is a mere pawn (or Jack). You think that McAllister, the main man at the AONISC, might be willing to exploit the alleged victim's plight in an attempt to strengthen his argument?

Surely the player's welfare should come first and so, he should act in a mature manner and act in the player's interests, not his own selfish interests.

[Not Brazil]

So, basically, the alleged victim is a mere pawn (or Jack). You think that McAllister, the main man at the AONISC, might be willing to exploit the alleged victim's plight in an attempt to strengthen his argument?

Like you, I'll wait and see what transpires.

I don't answer for (or to) Gary Mac.

I am unaware of the specific nature of the allegations and I am unaware of the numbers of players involved or their identity(ies).

[SwanVsDalton]

I am not privy to any evidence to back up such claims - however, if Gary were to say he has such evidence, I would be inclined to believe him...based on past experiences.

Whether you believe that, frankly, is irrelevant

He has no evidence. It's a fantasy. Let's not get caught up in this non-story - it would be fairly evident around Derry if this was the case, far more evident than it would be in, say, IFA HQ or Gary McAllister's bedroom.

Having originally decided to side with the South, did Doherty ever formally let the IFA know that he would be interested in playing for Northern Ireland?

IF you're suggesting Doherty would've received a call-up by now simply by dint of declaring, you are being disingenuous. He clearly hasn't been on the radar imo. It's simply my belief NI have approached players when they're good enough/in need of a player and I believe Doherty is one who should have been considered by now. That's all.

[Not Brazil]

He has no evidence.
IF you're suggesting Doherty would've received a call-up by now simply by dint of declaring, you are being disingenuous.

If you say he has no evidence, I respect your right to hold that opinion.

I don't know if he does, or doesn't.

Regarding Doherty, basically you're saying he didn't formally advise the IFA that he would consider a call up - having previously nailed his colours to the FAI mast.

[Not Brazil]

it would be fairly evident around Derry if this was the case

Why would it only be evident in Derry?

[ArdeeBhoy]

Don't always agree with Sv.D., but he's totally on the money here. And Thanks to him for that.

Gary Mac sounds a yet another aranoid eejit, along with yer man Gamble.
And they're the OWB 'intelligensia' ?

Truth is, it's got to the stage where NB and even, er, our currently absent Rotund friend are seen as 'moderate voices of reason'.
Which in at least one case, probably doesn't say much for the rest...

[Not Brazil]

'moderate voices of reason'.
Which in at least one case, probably doesn't say much for the rest...

Don't worry AB - it's not a label you're ever likely to be accused of.

[BonnieShels]

Jack change it.

Funny, down here we call that "Switch".
How apt.

[SwanVsDalton]

Why would it only be evident in Derry?

Small town syndrome not to mention the proliferation of (generally reliable) channels of info between Derry fans means it would be evident if true. Put simply too many know James and his family personally for an instance like that to elude them but, somehow, not Gary McAllister.

[Olé Olé]

Regarding Doherty, basically you're saying he didn't formally advise the IFA that he would consider a call up - having previously nailed his colours to the FAI mast.

Michael O'Neill expressly stated that he was going to consider anyone eligible for NI. I'm sure if Doherty was on O'Neill's radar he'd have contacted Doherty, in the same manner that James McClean and Marc Wilson were.

Whatever about the evidence that Gary McAllister may or may not have, there are quotes attributable to the likes of Armstrong and O'Neill to show that they've contacted players who have declared for ROI; the aforementioned pair, as well as Anton Rodgers. If this evidence actually does exist and McAllister has it, then not to produce it while these quotes are easily accessible could well be a shot in the foot, could it not?

[Not Brazil]

Funny, down here we call that "Switch".
How apt.

We were on the same wavelength then.

[Not Brazil]

Small town syndrome not to mention the proliferation of (generally reliable) channels of info between Derry fans means it would be evident if true. Put simply too many know James and his family personally for an instance like that to elude them but, somehow, not Gary McAllister.

So you presume the allegations relate solely to Derry based players?

[Predator]

DUP's Diane Dodds said she "highlighted the Northern Ireland player eligibility issue" recently: https://twitter.com/#!/DianeDoddsMEP...09288543223809

I can't seem to access the video. Perhaps she's taking a leaf out of McAllister and Gamble's book and blocking me?

[Not Brazil]

If this evidence actually does exist and McAllister has it, then not to produce it while these quotes are easily accessible could well be a shot in the foot, could it not?

I'm not sure what quotes attributable to Messrs Armstrong & O'Neill have to do with the discussion, in the context of Gary's allegations?

[DannyInvincible]

DUP's Diane Dodds said she "highlighted the Northern Ireland player eligibility issue" recently: https://twitter.com/#!/DianeDoddsMEP...09288543223809

I can't seem to access the video. Perhaps she's taking a leaf out of McAllister and Gamble's book and blocking me?

Mentioned it here: http://foot.ie/threads/147164-Eligib...=1#post1570843

The video may work in Internet Explorer for you. Didn't work in Google Chrome for me initially. Needless to say, Dodds was well and truly barking up a wrong tree in relation to her supposed interpretation of part AH of the Report on the European Dimension in Sport:

"[W]hereas national teams have a key role to play, international competitions continue to constitute a reference model and action should be taken against 'naturalisations of convenience'."

Of course, Irish nationals born north of the border are Irish nationals as of birthright; they're not naturalised Irish nationals, never mind being naturalised nationals of convenience.

[DannyInvincible]

Perhaps that's a rabbit in Gary's hat that he will produce to maximum effect at the appropriate time - rather than disclosing his source and evidence to someone on the Internet?

Just a thought.

The thing is, he was rather ambiguous and left the allegations open-ended (imaginations can run wilder that way), but if illegal threats have been made or intimidation has occurred, he'd be best reporting such behaviour to the police - if player welfare really is a genuine concern of his - along with any evidence he might have, rather than throwing me innuendo on Twitter and then running off to hide. Likewise for Gamble, rather than making silly threats about reporting Foot.ie to the police.

I think McAllister was bluffing and resorted to making vague accusations as he ran out of fuel in the argument. I suspect he's making a bigger deal than is warranted out of something like a community representative offering words of support or advice to a player mulling over a switch, if even that happened. Much ado about nothing and little to do with the FAI. Ultimately, is the suggestion that James McClean has opted to play for the FAI against his will?

So, in summary.

If you have represented an Association in only friendlies, you don't have to "request a change" in order to represent another Association for which you are eligible?

In other words, "switching" doesn't happen in that scenario?

That appears to be so. James Wallace and Gerard Kinsella, for example, represented the FAI in a non-competitive under-age fixture but Predator is fairly certain they weren't even eligible at all.

So you presume the allegations relate solely to Derry based players?

Sam Gamble stated the following in the comments section of his blog:

"This would not be the correct place to state some of the fairly reliable rumours that came out of the Maiden City around the McLean [sic] issue."