I have clearly stated that under my proposal on selection policy to represent the IFA at Under 19 and above, any player choosing the FAI route initially is entitled to switch to the IFA at a later date, if they are so minded, in line with the existing Eligibility rules laid down by FIFA.
Of course I look at the issue from a Northern Ireland point of view - I make no apology for trying to find a progressive solution for the IFA going forward, which fully complies with existing FIFA Statutes.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
Possibly. But most of those sports teams weren't around before the formation of the FAI.
As for 'robustly resisted', well FIFA will be quaking in their boots. Ultimately it'll depend on what England & Scotland decide to do, if they're not 'forced' to do so.
Except that anyone with that sort of fixation on 'childhood dreams' is liable to be reported to their local constabulary !
Who cares what they think of as a child:Ireland, England, Brazil, South Korea.
They should be free to choose at any age. When it really matters.
So the age cap 'issue' remains as farcical as ever...
You need to change the record, FFS.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
I care about who they would prefer to pursue their International career with, when they turn 18.
Nothing I have propsed has involved the imposing an "age cap".
Nothing I have proposed infringes on a player's rights to switch Association at a later date.
Nothing I have proposed is in breach of any existing FIFA eligibility rules.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
The rule does not exactly define what effects the change. That's why we already discussed this for 5 or so pages, a week or so ago. Did you not follow the discussion? Why do you think Joe D was so inspired to write to FIFA directly?
Sometimes we discuss highly relevant germane eligibility topics here
He may only once 'request to change the Association for which he is eligible toplay international matches to the Association of another country of which he holds nationality,'
He may only request once to change to play for another association.
So, he has to play for the other association in order to effect the change and FIFA man states that it has to be a senior game (of some description).
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
Notice you didn't mention cricket and one or two others. Anyway, when they were formed is irrelevant, given there was no cause for separate teams, if at all, until 1923 or so.
So why keep banging on about the age of 18 then, why have any age to submit to what you now refer to as a 'preference', when instead you mean something else?
If you're so resolute on this nonsense just start a campaign to get the IFA to cap people in their team when they get to 18 in competitive games.
I'm sure Michael O'Neill and his successors will take to that kindly...
And will alienate some of the players even more.
And the relevance before 1923 is?
Do yer research...
Read your own posts...
Last edited by Not Brazil; 11/02/2012 at 10:59 PM.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
Whilst I believe that fast tracking a player into a senior squad for a competitive match, in appropriate circumstances, has much merit, it's a different issue to having a chat with players at Under 19 to ascertain their International career preferences and helping to facilitate those preferences.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
NB, what is your opinion of James McClean? My view is that this is a player, who as a person from NI felt that he should represent his own association. Then, having played for NI, realised that maybe this wasn't really for him. He then decided to change association, which under FIFA rules is totally acceptable. How does such an individual fit into your view of things? Often in life, we think we would like to do something, only to find that when we do, it really isn't for us. Stephen Ireland is an obvious example as is McClean. Shouldn't they be given this opportunity to at least try and then decide after?
Last edited by gastric; 11/02/2012 at 11:51 PM.
Somewhere down the line, McClean is going to be capped competitively* for Ireland, ending the issue of his being eligible for both NI and ROI once and for all. How would you feel if, having been capped, he then decided that he had a closer affinity with NI after all? Do you think he should be "given this opportunity to at least try and decide after"?
*Seeing as how he has requested a switch in representative teams, does he need to capped in a competitive game, or will any senior cap do?
Yes and it has happened before as in the cases I mentioned above - Lowry and Bruce. I don't belief that there has been any outcry over their decisions nor in the cases of McGinty and Keane. There seems to be an acceptance that this can occur in international football. In regards to McClean and other NI born players, it is not always as simple as just picking one association and that's it. For example, the dressing room atmosphere, the relationship between players, the attitude of the fans could all play a role in a player's decision.
S Ireland is one who comes to mind who tried and decided later.
The FAI should admit the error of their ways and ask to get back together with the IFA.
If this is not accepted then lets just carry on from where we are now.
I can't wait for 2012 to start when hopefully this tread will go into hibernation.
I know I should'nt enter the Mad House (this thread) I am attracted to it like a demented Moth to the light bulb.
Also because I have OCD and just have to clear my Thread page of unopened threads.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
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