Sammie Szmodics M Blackburn Rovers b.1995

[Eirambler]

Cas was always eligible in fairness. Did manage to cast a bit of doubt over it in order to sell his book though! I think I read somewhere that Callum Robinson might have technically been ineligible when he first played for Ireland, but FIFA had cleared the switch so there was no error by the FAI. Aldridge played despite only having Irish great-grandparents, however again that was permissible at the time so it was all above board.

[seanfhear]

Cas was always eligible in fairness. Did manage to cast a bit of doubt over it in order to sell his book though! I think I read somewhere that Callum Robinson might have technically been ineligible when he first played for Ireland, but FIFA had cleared the switch so there was no error by the FAI. Aldridge played despite only having Irish great-grandparents, however again that was permissible at the time so it was all above board.

That was a marketing gambit by Cascarino in the UK to help the book sales and his media career ~ ~ And it worked.

[JR89]

Cas was always eligible in fairness. Did manage to cast a bit of doubt over it in order to sell his book though! I think I read somewhere that Callum Robinson might have technically been ineligible when he first played for Ireland, but FIFA had cleared the switch so there was no error by the FAI. Aldridge played despite only having Irish great-grandparents, however again that was permissible at the time so it was all above board.

Yes Callum Robinson's switch to us shouldn't have been allowed at the time but FIFA didn't know their own rules or didn't care until Luxembourg highlighted the rule when Ryan Johansson wanted to switch.

[tetsujin1979]

Cas was always eligible in fairness. Did manage to cast a bit of doubt over it in order to sell his book though! I think I read somewhere that Callum Robinson might have technically been ineligible when he first played for Ireland, but FIFA had cleared the switch so there was no error by the FAI. Aldridge played despite only having Irish great-grandparents, however again that was permissible at the time so it was all above board.

Aldridge qualified through his grandmother, who was from Athlone
https://www.westmeathindependent.ie/...athlone-roots/

[SkStu]

Cas was always eligible in fairness. Did manage to cast a bit of doubt over it in order to sell his book though!

I know, I know. Just having a laugh.

[pineapple stu]

Aldridge qualified through his grandmother, who was from Athlone
https://www.westmeathindependent.ie/...athlone-roots/

Funny, it's given as great-grandmother here - https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...c-hero-3380446

But that was never the rule, was it?

[Fixer82]

Not so sure, I read in a few places it was a great grandparent and it was a bit of a grey area that we got away with

[JR89]

[Diggs246]

Sorry Im lost, explain relevance to Sammie?

[SkStu]

I'm guessing he hasnt shown an interest in switching to Hungary and/or gotten his paperwork sorted out (which is the "on the one hand" criteria)...

[Diggs246]

The "captain" is obviously the manager as well

It's sounds like good news...I think

[SkStu]

I think he has turned them down and they are a bit salty about it to be honest.

[JR89]

Good chance that his Hungarian grandfather was one of the many that fled the country when the Soviets invaded back in the 50s. Possibility that he's unable to sort any official paperwork especially if said grandfather is died.

[tetsujin1979]

could be that they've been asked about the article in the Examiner over the weekend and had to put out a statement to put a stop the speculation
Knocks back the claim from Fallon that he'd been offered a place in the squad

[Eirambler]

Aldridge qualified through his grandmother, who was from Athlone
https://www.westmeathindependent.ie/...athlone-roots/

This was commonly quoted as being the case, but is incorrect, as explained by Philip Quinn here:

https://m.independent.ie/sport/fais-.../26108028.html

Aldridge had already played for Ireland when FIFA formalised the grandparent rule in the mid to late 1980s (previously the player just needed to have a heritage link to the country in order to represent them), so again the FAI were fine in picking Aldo when they did.

[Fixer82]

I still don't understand how McAteer got a passport with grandparents from the 6 counties.
I understand he could get one now but how did he get one then?

Didn't Alan Kernaghan get a passport cos one of his grandparents were born in the South?

[culloty82]

I still don't understand how McAteer got a passport with grandparents from the 6 counties.
I understand he could get one now but how did he get one then?

Didn't Alan Kernaghan get a passport cos one of his grandparents were born in the South?

It seems that anyone from the North could claim citizenship after a 1956 law in the Republic, and the GFA just saw the UK recognise that right:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_..._as_a_republic

[Fixer82]

Weird as I distinctly remember the Kernaghan story about his Granny being born in the south making him eligible.
It even says it on his wiki page

[Jolly Red Giant]

I still don't understand how McAteer got a passport with grandparents from the 6 counties.
I understand he could get one now but how did he get one then?

Didn't Alan Kernaghan get a passport cos one of his grandparents were born in the South?

McAteer's grandfather was born in Co. Down - but held an Irish passport - resulting in McAteer being able to secure the passport.

Kernaghan's situation is different. Neither he nor his parents weren't born in the North - but he grew up in Bangor. The IFA could have selected him - he did play underage for the North and in all likelihood he would have played for the North at senior level - but the IFA had their own policy the time of not picking players who weren't born in the North and whose parents weren't born in the North.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Tony Cascarino qualified based on the fact that his grandfather was Irish born - but later claimed that because his mother was adopted he had no qualification rights to play for Ireland. Technically its true because his mother never held an Irish passport - but adopted children were entitled to an Irish passport under the 1956 Act. Cascarino in reality was using it to whip up interest in his book.