Just to add to the 'debate'...
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/socia...hows-1.1396172
Swansea's Belfast born striker Rory Donnelly as informed the IFA that he currently no longer wishes to be considered for selection to IFA teams.
Wolves striker Liam McAlinden has switched to the FAI.
Presumably, Donnelly is open to selection by the FAI then?
More here: http://balls.ie/football/meet-the-la...r-the-republic
Liam McAlinden of Wolves has declared for the Republic of Ireland despite playing for Northern Ireland at youth level and after being named in their U-21 squad to play Cyprus this week. The striker was born in England and qualifies for the North through his grandmother. He had the option of declaring for the North, the Republic and England. Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill was very disappointed in McAlinden’s decision telling the BBC:
“Liam is a player who we had high hopes for and we’ve tried everything to keep him, I even went down to meet Liam and his agent Stephen. Could you imagine Giovanni Trapattoni doing that?
But that’s what we need to do because we have such a small pool of players to choose from.
Sadly for us the pull of the Republic was too strong. Liam qualifies for us through his grandfather born in Northern Ireland but most of his family are from the Republic.
I think they’ve been in his ear and obviously family means a lot to a player, and he’s chosen to go and try his luck with the Republic.”
McAlinden joins the likes of James McClean and Darron Gibson in declaring for the Republic ahead of the North.
Another two players Middlesbrough midfielder Jordan Jones and Swansea forward Rory Donnelly have also said they do not wish to be considered for selection for Northern Ireland.
And some more from the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22745927
Where do they concoct this nonsense?Wolves striker Liam McAlinden has become the latest player to switch allegiance from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland.
The teenager, who has represented NI at youth level, follows players including James McClean to make the move.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough midfielder Jordan Jones and Swansea forward Rory Donnelly do not wish to be considered for selection for Northern Ireland.
The trio had been named in the U21 squad to play Cyprus on Thursday night.
"We've made these players feel very welcome, but ultimately it's their decision and now we must concentrate on the players who do want to play for Northern Ireland," Northern Ireland senior manager Michael O'Neill told the Sunday Life.
Darron Gibson, Shane Duffy, Marc Wilson and Daniel Kearns also opted for the Republic after playing for Northern Ireland at youth level.
They took advantage of a Fifa ruling that allows players from the island of Ireland to choose which national side they represent, provided they have not played for the other in a competitive senior international.
This ruling did not apply to McAlinden, who is English-born and had the option of playing for Northern Ireland, the Republic and England.
It seems Donnelly's future intentions are still uncertain, however...
It is believed Jones, born on Teeside, wants to play for England while the international intentions of former Cliftonville forward Donnelly are unclear.
"He hasn't ruled anything out in the future and certainly hasn't closed the door on playing for Northern Ireland," said Donnelly's agent Gerry Carlisle.
Glad to see this thread get back to its core purpose - breaking news on international newcomers.
Couldn't resist:
Originally Posted by Me to the BBC
Last edited by BonnieShels; 02/06/2013 at 2:06 PM.
DID YOU NOTICE A SIGN OUTSIDE MY HOUSE...?
Ha, good job! You saved me the time, which I don't have a lot of at the minute.
Actually, the BBC's wording also gives the impression that anyone born anywhere on the island can play for either side, which, of course, is not the case. A Dublin-born Irish national with no connection to NI as stipulated in the statutes cannot declare for the IFA, for example. I just can't understand how they can still be so ignorant and misinformed in relation to the eligibility issue.
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