Eligibility proposal

[Not Brazil]

Neither do I. Northern Ireland produces 1 or 2 players every generation that might get their game with Ireland. Those two boys that went back to Northern Ireland realised this - they knew there're not good enough to get a game with the Irish A team.

The broad point being that professional footballers will put football before politics.

Players will elect to play for the team they feel will give them the best opportunity to progress their career on the international stage.

[kingdomkerry]

That's simply untrue.


It doesn't.

It does. The Irish team are represented by 32 counties and 4 provinces. This is seen in support for the team and player representation. Darren Gibson is from derry you know?

[ifk101]

The broad point being that professional footballers will put football before politics.

Players will elect to play for the team they feel will give them the best opportunity to progress their career on the international stage.

Totally agree. Players born in Northern Ireland will chose to play for Ireland if they are good enough as a cap for Ireland will add more value to their club paycheck than a Northern Ireland cap. If they are not good enough for the Irish team they'll chose to play for Northern Ireland as an international cap is better than no cap when it comes to negotiating club wages.

[Newryrep]

Correct.


The 4 criteria also apply in respect of players whose nationality entitles them to play for >1 team. This is the bit that confused the IFA, who thought this applied to dual nationality - but it doesn't: it applies to a players whose single nationality qualifies them for more than one team.

They're not arguing about changing nationalities. See my response to 2 above.

Thanks for the replies, bit clearer now, IFA are holding a beaten docket but dont want to rip it up.

[Not Brazil]

Totally agree. Players born in Northern Ireland will chose to play for Ireland if they are good enough as a cap for Ireland will add more value to their club paycheck than a Northern Ireland cap. If they are not good enough for the Irish team they'll chose to play for Northern Ireland as an international cap is better than no cap when it comes to negotiating club wages.

You forgot that some players who would be good enough to play for the Republic Of Ireland, will continue to play for Northern Ireland.

That's because they're proud to play for Northern Ireland.

[ifk101]

You forgot that some players who would be good enough to play for the Ireland, will continue to play for Northern Ireland.

That's because they're proud to play for Northern Ireland.

Of course - that shouldn't be ruled out.

[lopez]

You forgot that some players who would be good enough to play for the Republic Of Ireland, will continue to play for Northern Ireland.

That's because they're proud to play for Northern Ireland.

Just as some players born in England or Scotland would always pick Ireland over the country of their birth.

This team we call Ireland - you can call it what you like (beggars, tinkers, mexicans, thieves, Fenians, Taigs) - doesn't represent the 32 counties but it does represent 32 county Irish nationalists. In footballing terms you'll lose a hadnfull of players a decade, of which you will no doubt get some back when they weigh up their options before 21. In terms of respect for people's choice of nationality in Ireland, this news is excellent, with the exception that once more Irish unionists have turned their back on their brethren across the border.

[kingdomkerry]

I think the amount they loose will depend on the amount of players from a nationalist background who would be good enough to play for Ireland? As the norths player pool is halved, this will eventually lead to an All Ireland team which is what i guess about 80% of the people want.

[Blanchflower]

It does. The Irish team are represented by 32 counties and 4 provinces. This is seen in support for the team and player representation. Darren Gibson is from derry you know?

The ROI team isn't "represented by" anyone. It does, however, represent (unsurprisingly), the ROI. The fact that they can pick players from NI doesn't alter the fact that it is an ROI team.

[Blanchflower]

If they are not good enough for the Irish team they'll chose to play for Northern Ireland as an international cap is better than no cap when it comes to negotiating club wages.

That doesn't make sense. There are two Irish teams.

[Blanchflower]

This team we call Ireland - you can call it what you like (beggars, tinkers, mexicans, thieves, Fenians, Taigs) - doesn't represent the 32 counties

Tell that to kingdomkerry.

[Juanace]

Wow people we all need to take a few chill pills!!

Lets leave the technicalities to one side (Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Ireland or whatever..are we all really so petty? Lets move on a we bit eh?)

In essence i agree (and I'd reckon most Norn Ireland Fans would too) is that if a lad from the 6 countries feels they are more represented by by the ROI team then they should be allowed play for them - after all we cant force someone to play for a team that doesnt represent them, in their opinion - we all know the reasons a lad from the North might feel like this.

In reality it seems very rare anyway that anyone from the North plays for the ROI, take Gibson out and its really a mute point, so lets not get all hot and bothered about it eh!

[Gather round]

Players will elect to play for the team they feel will give them the best opportunity to progress their career on the international stage

As schoolboy footballers in NI, their best chance of playing international football is to get a professional contract in England. To achieve that, they'll probably need to play school or youth representative football, most likely for NI. I hope and expect that the IFA and FAI will agree/ compromise that anyone playing for a youth international side (ie aged 16+) can't then play for another country.

Totally agree. Players born in Northern Ireland will chose to play for Ireland if they are good enough as a cap for Ireland will add more value to their club paycheck than a Northern Ireland cap

Well, as above I think it's the other way round. You need to be getting kicked regularly in English Division 3 (where we both have players this term) before thinking of internationals.

This team we call Ireland - you can call it what you like

Republic of Ireland, Southern Ireland or for short the South. No offence intended in any of these.

In footballing terms you'll lose a hadnfull of players a decade, of which you will no doubt get some back when they weigh up their options before 21

Agreed on the net losses, although as above I don't think it would be unreasonable to deny them that option.

I think the amount they loose will depend on the amount of players from a nationalist background who would be good enough to play for Ireland?

Anyone in the current NI team is clearly good enough to push for a place in the Republic's- our team has been better for the last two seasons.

I think the number leaving will depend on how strong their politics are?

As the norths player pool is halved, this will eventually lead to an All Ireland team which is what i guess about 80% of the people want

There's no prospect of the NI team dissolving itself. Why wait for this, when you clearly think your existing team is all-Ireland?

[lopez]

Tell that to kingdomkerry.

What we have is the de facto sectarianisation of the two representative teams in Ireland. It's not what a lot of people wanted (or claim they wanted) but the alternative for the IFA is worse. Do you think it would be right for the FAI to seek Unionists to play for them in positions they require backup (goalkeeper), or just let players (or more usually a 'representative') approach them (who are usually always of a nationalist background) and take it from there?

[Blanchflower]

What we have is the de facto sectarianisation of the two representative teams in Ireland.

I don't think it's quite as bad as that. Many RCs will continue to play for and support NI, as they always have done. After all, the FIFA ruling doesn't change anything.

[ifk101]

I don't think it's quite as bad as that. Many RCs will continue to play for and support NI, as they always have done. After all, the FIFA ruling doesn't change anything.

What's RCs?

[Paddy Garcia]

I don't think it's quite as bad as that. Many RCs will continue to play for and support NI, as they always have done. After all, the FIFA ruling doesn't change anything.

I think it opens the door far wider than previously was the case.

Also there was some doubt and debate on the eligability issue up to now, this has been publically put to bed.

[Paddy Garcia]

What's RCs?

Right Centreback. Do you know nothing?

[Paddy Garcia]

so lets not get all hot and bothered about it eh!

LOL- if you think the last few posts are hot & bothered, you ain't seen nothing yet on this issue!

[paul_oshea]

roman catholics.

reminds me of the term "arsey" when a mate was getting married and he thought the reverand in the church was calling him arsey when he actually meant RC.