Shane Ferguson

[Newryrep]

He hasnt played competitive football for the North at senior level, trust me. This lad is similar to Duffy, he is a Derry City boy,think he comes from Limavady, wants to play for the Republic, he has supported the Republic all his life, Dont know the lad personally but I have talked to people who do have really good idea of his intentions. He isnt just going to declare for the Republic if he destroys he chance of playing international football.

surely something wrong here

[Not Brazil]

I'm surprised Worthington didn't name Ferguson in the squad for the forthcoming matches against Serbia and Slovenia, and then played him for a few minutes.

That's the way to test his desire (or otherwise).

Maybe time for a call up yet.

[DannyInvincible]

I think given the past, current and likely future fuss, the FAI are actually a bit less likely to pick players who've already played for the full NI side. Simply because every time it happens, there's likely to be a sh*t-storm in the NI media. That probably isn't an issue for someone like Adam Barton, who's never lived in Ireland and probably won't during his playing career. But it might be for a kid from Limavady or wherever.

In other words, FIFA's rules allow the FAI to pick such players. But that doesn't necessarily mean that they will.

I suppose we'll have to see, although Noel King had no reservations in calling up Barton only last week.

They're hoping that the FAI will either just stop picking the players, or reach some local agreement.

The FAI agreed to a "local agreement" proposed by FIFA, as geysir mentions, but alas the IFA were obstinate enough to reject it. Indeed, it makes current IFA grumbling look infantile.

[Gather round]

The FAI agreed to a "local agreement" proposed by FIFA, as geysir mentions, but alas the IFA were obstinate enough to reject it. Indeed, it makes current IFA grumbling look infantile

Aye, obstinate and foolish. They'll need to try a new tack now. I'd prefer that it involved only gentle feelers to the FAI, but I think you can see why they continue to stir it in the media, as I mentioned above.

[Not Brazil]

The FAI agreed to a "local agreement" proposed by FIFA, as geysir mentions, but alas the IFA were obstinate enough to reject it. Indeed, it makes current IFA grumbling look infantile.

Are you alluding to the "local agreement" proposed by FIFA on 7th March 2007, namely?:

"every player born on the territory of Northern Ireland, holding the UK nationality and being entitled to a passport of the Republic of Ireland or born on the territory of the Republic of Ireland and holding the Irish nationality could either play for the [FAI] or the [IFA], under the condition that all other relevant prerequisites pertaining to player’s eligibility for a specific Association team are fulfilled”.

If so, thank goodness the IFA were "obstinate" enough to reject it.

[DannyInvincible]

I'm surprised Worthington didn't name Ferguson in the squad for the forthcoming matches against Serbia and Slovenia, and then played him for a few minutes..

I'm surprised myself. Why wasn't he called into the squad for the Faroe Islands game after the Italy friendly (assuming he was fit)? I assume that if he'd rejected a call-up from the IFA in wait of a call-up by the FAI it would have made the media, unless the IFA would seek to keep such a story quiet for fear things never transpired as hoped for Ferguson with the FAI at first and the criticism garnered after having had shady dealings with the Beggars would put him off reconsidering playing for Northern Ireland in future. Is that a bit far-fetched?

[geysir]

Media rumbles in the North don't mean jack shít down South.
Anyway that BT survey indicates that 63% are in favour of things continuing as they stand now for the players

[DannyInvincible]

Are you alluding to the "local agreement" proposed by FIFA on 7th March 2007, namely?:

"every player born on the territory of Northern Ireland, holding the UK nationality and being entitled to a passport of the Republic of Ireland or born on the territory of the Republic of Ireland and holding the Irish nationality could either play for the [FAI] or the [IFA], under the condition that all other relevant prerequisites pertaining to player’s eligibility for a specific Association team are fulfilled”.

If so, thank goodness the IFA were "obstinate" enough to reject it.

Beggars can't be choosers and all that. I'm sure it didn't harvest any sympathy from FIFA anyway.

[Not Brazil]

Why wasn't he called into the squad for the Faroe Islands game after the Italy friendly (assuming he was fit)?

The Faroes game was following the qualifier versus Italy.

The friendly Ferguson appeared in was back in June 2009.

[DannyInvincible]

The Faroes game was following the qualifier versus Italy.

The friendly Ferguson appeared in was back in June 2009.

Ah, apologies. My mistake. Even more reason to question why he hasn't been thrown on for the last minute or two of a competitive game since though, no?

[ArdeeBhoy]

Simply because every time it happens, there's likely to be a sh*t-storm in the NI media.

In other words, FIFA's rules allow the FAI to pick such players. But that doesn't necessarily mean that they will.

I'm sure the average person living in the North really gives two fecks about who mainly journeymen footballers play for...

And it may not mean they will, but no need why not either.

No, it's not confusing. It just involves a few more factors than the one you suggest.

No, the C.A.S. criteria is competitive games, criteria even certain people in W.London can understand.

[Not Brazil]

Ah, apologies. My mistake. Even more reason to question why he hasn't been thrown on for the last minute or two of a competitive game since though, no?

I agree.

[Not Brazil]

No, the C.A.S. criteria is competitive games, criteria even certain people in W.London can understand.

It's FIFA criteria actually.

[Gather round]

I'm sure the average person living in the North really gives two fecks about who mainly journeymen footballers play for...

The media coverage suggests that quite a lot of people there do care, does it not?

And it may not mean they will, but no need why not either

Time will tell.

No, the C.A.S. criteria is competitive games, criteria even certain people in W.London can understand

Let me explain this to you again. The FIFA rules/ CAS criteria, straightforward as they are, are not the only factors which might determine whether FAI pick players from NI, particularly those who've already played for the full NI team.

[Predator]

The media coverage suggests that quite a lot of people there do care, does it not?

I don't doubt that a fair few people are still unable to accept the situation, but the only real media coverage I've seen has come from the Belfast Telegraph. It doesn't seem to be considered truly newsworthy stuff anymore and rightly so.

[Gather round]

I'm no fan of the Tele, but it does still have quite a wide circulation locally.

[Predator]

I don't think the circulation of the Belfast Telegraph shows a general consensus among the local population; rather that the editors and journalists (or friends of theirs) at the newspaper care about the topic and wish to see it remain an unresolved issue, despite the CAS case. Aside from the sudden flurry of articles in the Belfast Telegraph, there was seemingly little fuss elsewhere, which tells me that it's not that newsworthy (i.e. people don't particularly care anymore). At least this time UTV didn't do a spotlight programme looking into the matter.

I've said previously that I didn't think that Ferguson would change to the FAI considering the fact that he'd been capped at senior level, but the Adam Barton scenario shows that it's not impossible. If he did change, I'd welcome him, if not then I wish him the best in his career representing the IFA.

[Gather round]

I don't think the circulation of the Belfast Telegraph shows a general consensus among the local population; rather that the editors and journalists (or friends of theirs) at the newspaper care about the topic and wish to see it remain an unresolved issue, despite the CAS case

Newspaper content does reflect the bias/ interests of its owners. editors and writers, as you say. But it also has to reflect the interests of its readers (or what they're interested in). If it didn't, readers would drift away.

Aside from the sudden flurry of articles in the Belfast Telegraph, there was seemingly little fuss elsewhere, which tells me that it's not that newsworthy (i.e. people don't particularly care anymore). At least this time UTV didn't do a spotlight programme looking into the matter

It's not as newsworthy as the tsunami or the war in North Africa. But it remains newsworthy in NI's biggest circulation newspaper, while people like Nolan at the BBC can be relied to use it on a slow local news day. I think you're understating it.

I've said previously that I didn't think that Ferguson would change to the FAI considering the fact that he'd been capped at senior level, but the Adam Barton scenario shows that it's not impossible. If he did change, I'd welcome him, if not then I wish him the best in his career representing the IFA

It's certainly not impossible, but I agree it's unlikely.

[awec]

Ah, apologies. My mistake. Even more reason to question why he hasn't been thrown on for the last minute or two of a competitive game since though, no?

Good question!

[DannyInvincible]

Aside from the sudden flurry of articles in the Belfast Telegraph, there was seemingly little fuss elsewhere, which tells me that it's not that newsworthy (i.e. people don't particularly care anymore).

Hell, they even got rid of the "Football Apartheid in Ireland" forum over on OWC!