NI boss targets Republic's Gibson

[geysir]

There is nothing in Article 15 of the Statutes that stops Qatar doling out passports to Brazilians which was the whole point of this..

Therefore the vote at the congress for the annex specified for that naturalization issue

The GFA agreement has nothing to do with this btw as NI born people were entitled to Irish passports all along.

exactly

My own belief is that the FAI case is based on nationality. DG has only one nationality eg Irish. The IFA need to argue that he is also British. This becomes a highly political argument

.
As nationality is automatic, FIFA have accepted that 100%, the FAI don't have to argue anything and JD knows this.
FIFA precedent is set in stone re automatic citizenship, doesn't matter if by location of his birth he is eligible for another passport.

[RogerMilla]

FIFA has never tolerated politicians interfering in the independence and integrity of its Members when it comes to footballing matters.

LOL utter rubbish, the politicians decide and then FIFA follow suit, you telling me FIFA stood brave against the fall of yugoslavia or told slovakia , now now lads , none of this independence carry on. Listen Ukraine , you lads have to play for russia , i dotn care if you are an independent state now ??

The governments of both nations agree that people born in northern Ireland are eligible for irish nationality. Fifa wont mess with that if the player declares for the republic.

[gspain]

As nationality is automatic, FIFA have accepted that 100%, the FAI don't have to argue anything and JD knows this.
FIFA precedent is set in stone re automatic citizenship, doesn't matter if by location of his birth he is eligible for another passport.

Nobody is denying DG's right to an Irish passport. However if FIFA rule that he is also British because he was born in the UK then the Annex may apply (subject to the legal argument that the annex no longer refers to a valid Satatute). This would be a highly emotive and political ruling to make.

If the Annex applies then he can't play for us irrespective of the passport as he wasn't born within the terroritory of the FAI, hasn't got a parent or grandparent born here or lived here for 2 years.

Dermot Aherne may have scored an own goal here by getting it accepted that players can play for NI with an Irish passport. You can now argue that even his Irish nationality qualifies him to play for NI and RoI and therefore the Annex applies.

The more I look at it the more complex it gets.

[EalingGreen]

Nobody is denying DG's right to an Irish passport. However if FIFA rule that he is also British because he was born in the UK then the Annex may apply (subject to the legal argument that the annex no longer refers to a valid Satatute). This would be a highly emotive and political ruling to make.

If the Annex applies then he can't play for us irrespective of the passport as he wasn't born within the terroritory of the FAI, hasn't got a parent or grandparent born here or lived here for 2 years.

Dermot Aherne may have scored an own goal here by getting it accepted that players can play for NI with an Irish passport. You can now argue that even his Irish nationality qualifies him to play for NI and RoI and therefore the Annex applies.

The more I look at it the more complex it gets.

"However, if FIFA rule that he is also British because he was born in the UK and also played under age football for one of the British Associations, then the Annex may apply etc"

[EalingGreen]

LOL utter rubbish, the politicians decide and then FIFA follow suit, you telling me FIFA stood brave against the fall of yugoslavia or told slovakia , now now lads , none of this independence carry on. Listen Ukraine , you lads have to play for russia , i dotn care if you are an independent state now ??

The governments of both nations agree that people born in northern Ireland are eligible for irish nationality. Fifa wont mess with that if the player declares for the republic.

This misunderstands my point. When Yugoslavia broke up into several independent countries, of course FIFA recognised this (obviously!) and permitted each country to set up its own independent Football Association.

But it is a long-established and universally enforced principle that e.g. the Government of Serbia cannot interfere in the running of the Serbian FA, or the Slovenian Government in the running of the Slovenian FA and especially that the Serbian Government cannot interfere in the running of the Slovenian FA (or vice versa).

Otherwise, FIFA will suspend or terminate the Membership of the Association of the offending Government, which invariably does the trick. If you search FIFA's Website, you'll see that this happens all the time. Recent Governments which have been forced to back off have included the Greeks and Kenyans.

(It's the same with the IOC, btw)

[as_i_say]

LOL utter rubbish, the politicians decide and then FIFA follow suit, you telling me FIFA stood brave against the fall of yugoslavia or told slovakia , now now lads , none of this independence carry on. Listen Ukraine , you lads have to play for russia , i dotn care if you are an independent state now ??

The governments of both nations agree that people born in northern Ireland are eligible for irish nationality. Fifa wont mess with that if the player declares for the republic.

HA. FINALLY!!! That one post is it in a nutshell. Its not even a footballing matter. End of thread? Please, pretty please??

[gspain]

"However, if FIFA rule that he is also British because he was born in the UK and also played under age football for one of the British Associations, then the Annex may apply etc"

Given that he was still a minor when he switched he could still claim on the nationality issue. FIFA allow changes up until aged 21 and courts in most countries distinguish between decisions made by U18s.

[Paulie]

To be honest, while I understand the urgency of Northern Ireland's fans in wanting to get this matter clarified (and I don't just mean in relation to Darren Gibson), it is beyond me as to why they would want to basically force someone, who has no interest in playing for them, to do so or to at least prevent them from playing for the country that they feel represents them.

My own belief is that regardless of the legalities of the situation it would be disgraceful to prevent people born in Northern Ireland from playing for the Republic of Ireland if that is the team that they wish to play for. I would also be amazed if this was to happen.

[eelmonster]

... the true "Ireland" football team? (You know, the one which has existed for 127 years...).

For how many of those years have you been playing under the Ulster [sic]/loyalist banner?

[Maroon 7]

More hysterics on OWC. Can you send e-mails in green crayon?

"FIFA can stand by and do nowt.
What we should all be doing is contacting the National asscoiations of ALL possible opponents of the ROI and make them aware that if they play Gibson and others against them then they are breaking (potentially) FIFA rules and should appeal to be given the game.
This is where action will be done.
Like someone said earlier can you imagine the kick up if Gibson scored the goal that knowked the Germans out....?"

[geysir]

Nobody is denying DG's right to an Irish passport. However if FIFA rule that he is also British because he was born in the UK then the Annex may apply (subject to the legal argument that the annex no longer refers to a valid Satatute). This would be a highly emotive and political ruling to make.

If the Annex applies then he can't play for us irrespective of the passport as he wasn't born within the terroritory of the FAI, hasn't got a parent or grandparent born here or lived here for 2 years.

Dermot Aherne may have scored an own goal here by getting it accepted that players can play for NI with an Irish passport. You can now argue that even his Irish nationality qualifies him to play for NI and RoI and therefore the Annex applies.

The more I look at it the more complex it gets.

You are manufacturing a hypothetical situation of complications and interpretations ignoring how the statutes are applied in arbitrating declaration issues all over the world by FIFA.
A national born in another territory of course is entitled to another citizenship. There are plenty of examples of that. That is obvious here but not pertinent and actually irrelevant in his declaration for Ireland.
What matters to FIFA, first and formost, is that he has an automatic right to Irish citizenship no matter what part of the Island he is born.

I am impressed by how much FIFA go out of their way to protect the civil rights of a young footballer.

[lopez]

...the shortest answer to your exhaustive post is ...
-No I wasn't.

Oh mmmmercy.

Now you're back and Marty has joined us, you can go ask him about his feelings about someone from the 26C playing for/supporting Northern Ireland.

[lopez]

More hysterics on OWC. Can you send e-mails in green crayon?

"FIFA can stand by and do nowt.
What we should all be doing is contacting the National asscoiations of ALL possible opponents of the ROI and make them aware that if they play Gibson and others against them then they are breaking (potentially) FIFA rules and should appeal to be given the game.
This is where action will be done.
Like someone said earlier can you imagine the kick up if Gibson scored the goal that knowked the Germans out....?"

I'm on the case already, and have contacted the Spanish and Swedish FAs with the contradiction between Maik Taylor et al never having lived in the 'footballing jurisdiction' of the O6C, and the fact that they play for the representatives of the 'footballing jurisdiction' of NI. Probably stands a better chance of success as well than the case against us. I would love to see the reaction on ourweeminds if it went against them. LOFL!

EG, Army Groupie, Not Brazil. You hang around with some babies.

[lopez]

EalingGreen,

I do not intend to create a post of such length that it bores anyone who reads it. However, there is a simple reason why I wish to register on the ourweecountry site.

There are some matters that have very recently become highly relevant to that of a ROI fan. This matter is related to the eligibility or not as many believe of one of our players, Darron Gibson. A fellow member of this board posted a comment inviting others to view a thread on the above mentioned site, commenting that it was of some interest. When I attempted to view this thread, I was met with a screen asking me to register, in order to view the information. Wanting to view the information I filled in the relevant information, yet I am not allowed on the forum. I hope this answers your long winded question.

Wouldn't even bother. Also if the poster quoted by Maroon 7 is anything to judge the site by - and I know it's not an isolated post - you could be in trouble with several police forces around the world as an adult entering a site that is clearly the domain for pre-pubescent children.

[co. down green]

I'm surprised the issue is still under discussion as it's already been resolved by FIFA's top legal guys.

The IFA complained to FIFA in Feb 06 about Alex Bruce not qualifying for Ireland as his grandmother came from Bangor in Co.Down and they received the same answer as they received in the FIFA response of October 06 "the existing situation in Northern Ireland allows players to choose whether they wish to represent Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland'."

The issue is not really about Darron Gibson to be honest, as the IFA are fully aware of his right to represent Ireland, its about the future and trying to change the rules to stop young Irish players from the North of Ireland representing Ireland at international level.

I presume they are getting pretty desperate when they are getting their international manager to tell lies about Darron Gibson and the IFA running a witchhunt against the lad in the media.

The existing rule stands, and its the same rule that allowed Ballynahinch's Andy Kilmartin to represent Ireland in 1999 and the same rule that allowed Derry's James Quigley to represent Ireland back in 97.

The FAI need to play hardball over the issue and resist any attempt from the IFA to change the rules allowing young Irish players to represent their country.

I would love to know why the IFA made no representations to FIFA over Henry McStay, Saul Deeny, Kevin Deery etc... playing competitive u21 football for Ireland in the past.

at least Howard Wells might get a new 12 month contract out of it, isn't his contract nearly up ?

[geysir]

Given that he was still a minor when he switched he could still claim on the nationality issue. FIFA allow changes up until aged 21 and courts in most countries distinguish between decisions made by U18s.

Only one change is allowed before age of 21. Darron was already tied before he received a senior cap.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Now you're back and Marty has joined us, you can go ask him about his feelings about someone from the 26C playing for/supporting Northern Ireland.

To be honest I couldn't give a tuppeny fcuk how Marty would feel about a person born in the 26C playing for Northern Ireland. If the hypothetical player was entitled -then he's entitled and that's the end of it for me.

If Marty or any other NI fan has a problem with that then they're only being as narrow-minded as some of ours who give the hairy eyeball to non-Ireland born players who opt to play for us.

[RogerMilla]

"Now you're back and Marty has joined us, you can go ask him about his feelings about someone from the 26C playing for/supporting Northern Ireland."

everyone i know supported them in 82 and 86 , my own ambivalence towards the northern ireland team began after the 1-1 game. i am not too bothered about their results either way apart from the obvious pangs of jealousy when they beat a good side like spain etc. etc.

[livehead1]

Wouldn't even bother. Also if the poster quoted by Maroon 7 is anything to judge the site by - and I know it's not an isolated post - you could be in trouble with several police forces around the world as an adult entering a site that is clearly the domain for pre-pubescent children.

Your right; I had a post fully written but I cannot even be bothered to send it now. I have had my academic ability questioned, been called a hypocrit and I have been warned before and had my post deleted when I have lost my rag and personally criticised somebody. However that post is still on this site; anyone care to answer why?

[youngirish]

Your right; I had a post fully written but I cannot even be bothered to send it now. I have had my academic ability questioned, been called a hypocrit and I have been warned before and had my post deleted when I have lost my rag and personally criticised somebody. However that post is still on this site; anyone care to answer why?

That was me that was.