The decision by FIFA to pevent the FAI quoting the Good Friday Agreement in calling up players born on the island of Ireland was fudamentally wrong. As a result of the ruling the FAI can now only use players born in the Republic, or whose parents or grandparents are born in the Republic. The controversy over Gibson’s involvement stems afte Nigel Worthington declared that the Derryman should play for the North because “He’s been born in the North so I think it’s only right that the place of birth is the country that you play for.” That’s a bit rich considering German born Maik Taylor and Jersey born Trevor Wood both play for the north even though they have no links to the six counties at all. Ironically one of the reasons that FIFA introduced the current wording stated above is because of the blatant abuse of the rules by associations such as the IFA. The fact that the IFA then went whinging to FIFA about Northern players playing for the Republic highlights their hypocrisy. The cases of Taylor and Wood and that of Gibson are entirely different however. The first two qualified under an old rule where any citizen of the UK could play for whichever association they wanted to. Gibson however has played for the Republic since under seventeen level and can obviously identify more with the Republic than the North. He is not alone as Tony Kane and Michael OConnor both decided to switch allegiances from the North to the Republic. It now appears though that the latter two must now play for the ‘country’ that has Good Save The Queen as its anthem and hounded Neil Lennon out because he had the nerve to play for Celtic. These players and players who share similar backgrounds and cultural beliefs to them in the future now have the impossible choice of choosing to play for the six counties or else not having an international career. It is a choice they should not have to make. I would be confident that the ruling will be overturned as FIFA didn’t feel strongly enough about it to punish the FAI for playing Gibson and he can continue to represent us because he was capped. Does that mean though if we had capped O’Kane in the Under 21 match last month against Portugal instead of waiting on FIFA’s ruling he too would have been eligibable. Perhaps afterall my confidence perhaps isn’t justified t given the ineptitude of the FAI.
Re:Irish Football
That’s the argument in a nuthsell. The Maik Talyor point is a good one. It was the same when they thought about trying to get Matt Le Tissier because as a Jersey man I think he’s just a UK citizen so could play for any of the “home nations.”
They abused the rules and then complained when the FAI did the right thing by them.
Re:Irish Football
Republic loses northern footballers
Footballers from Northern Ireland do not have the right to play for the Republic of Ireland, despite the Good Friday Agreement.
The Observer has learnt that Fifa - soccer’s international ruling body - will not change its internal rules in order to allow players to choose which nation to represent. At a meeting with the Belfast-based Irish Football Association (IFA) last month, Fifa said it would prevent the southern Football Association of Ireland (FAI) from offering places to young northerners in the southern national squad.
Fifa was forced to act after the IFA made a complaint alleging that the Dublin-based football association was poaching young players from nationalist parts of Northern Ireland. ‘A fortnight ago Fifa told the IFA that the FAI had to comply by the end of the month to the ruling or else it would be taken up by the world body’s executive committee. Basically the IFA won but the [IFA] doesn’t want to say so because it is loath to cause a cross-border row with their southern counterparts,’ one of the sources told The Observer.
'Nationalists, including the Irish Foreign Minister, have argued that under the Belfast Agreement you have the right to be either Irish or British and because of that young players from nationalist backgrounds have a right to choose between Northern Ireland or the Republic.
‘The IFA’s legal team pointed out that Fifa is a private organisation with its own rules and can’t therefore be dictated to by a political treaty like the Belfast Agreement. Fifa agreed with this analysis - the Belfast Agreement has nothing do with Fifa’s rules,’ the source added.
He pointed out that during discussions in Zurich two weeks ago, Fifa raised the issue of its internal Circular 901, a ruling which barred three Brazilian stars from turning out for the Gulf State of Qatar in 2004. ‘Circular 901 was basically the precedent case that bolstered the IFA’s challenge,’ the source said.
All three football associations refused this weekend to confirm that Fifa had made a ruling favourable to the IFA. A Fifa spokesman said: ‘We are waiting on feedback from Fifa’s own legal representatives.’
Northern Ireland supporters, however, have welcomed news that Fifa is about to plug the leakage of some young players into the Republic’s football squad. According to highly placed sources, football’s world governing body also agreed that Irish Republic passport holders who are otherwise entitled to play for the northern team could now turn out for Northern Ireland and would be issued with a special Fifa certificate at the team’s away games. It is understood this initiative was proposed by the IFA, which under its Chief Executive, Howard Wells wanted to remove the rule that only British passport holders could play for Northern Ireland.
Gary McAllister, the secretary of the Amalgamated Northern Ireland Supporters Club, said fans would support moves to allow Irish passport-holders to play for the northern team.
'It’s very encouraging that Fifa is going to rule that players can’t be poached or defect from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland. Fans will also be pleased that the IFA has sought to solve the passports issue.
‘Most fair-minded supporters are just glad that young lads are wearing the green jersey of Northern Ireland, they don’t really care what passport that player holds,’ he said.
But former Mayor of Derry and SDLP Assembly member Pat Ramsey vowed yesterday to raise the issue again with the Irish Foreign Minister. Ramsey has fought for the right of young players based in Derry to play for the Republic rather than Northern Ireland.
‘How is it right that a guy with Irish parents who lives in Birmingham, Boston or Budapest could play for the Republic of Ireland yet someone who lives just up the road in Derry or Newry can’t? I will be asking Dermot Ahern to take up this issue again with Fifa and to defend the right of young nationalists to play for the Republic just as I would defend the right of anyone who wanted to play for Northern Ireland,’ he said.
Picking sides
Darron Gibson: A Derry-born player who played for Northern Ireland at schoolboy level. After joining Manchester United Gibson switched to the Republic of Ireland. Now on loan to Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, Gibson is in the Republic’s Under-21 squad. The expected Fifa ruling does not apply retrospectively so he will remain a player for the Republic.
Alex Bruce: The son of Manchester United’s former captain and current Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce could have qualified to play for Northern Ireland because his grandparents were born in Bangor, Co Down. Bruce Junior received three invitations to play for Northern Ireland at Under-21 level but instead chose the Republic. His decision in 2006 provoked a clash between the North’s then manager Lawrie Sanchez and the FAI.
Alan Kernaghan: Although born in Yorkshire the central defender was eligible to play for Northern Ireland because his parents came from there. But he chose to play for the Republic and earned 26 caps under Jack Charlton including games at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Kernaghan was the subject of prolonged booing and jeering at Windsor Park in Belfast during a tense World Cup qualifier between the Republic and Northern Ireland which ended in a 1-1 draw and the southern team qualifying for the finals.
Re:Irish Football
No idea what’s going on here - seems like the 6 counties lads will in fact be allowed to play for Ireland:
FIFA rule on player eligibility dispute
07/11/2007 - 12:55:15
FIFA have suggested that players born in the North should be able to play for the Republic of Ireland, regardless of ancestry.
World footballs governing body have put forward a compromise to the long-running dispute regarding eligibility, brought to a head by the case of Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson, which would allow players from both sides of the border to switch allegiances until they play a competitive match.
The suggestion has been welcomed in Dublin by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) who have pointed to the Good Friday Agreement which upholds the right of those born in the North to claim an Irish passport.
Currently, there is no agreement allowing those born south of the border to opt to play for Northern Ireland.
The Irish Football Association (IFA) in the North have yet to respond to the ruling.
The IFA have cited FIFAs rules which say only those born in a country or with a parent or grandparent born there should be able to play for the national team.
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A final decision by FIFAs executive committee will be made after responses from both associations.
A statement from the FAI said: The Football Association of Ireland received correspondence from FIFAs legal committee today regarding the eligibility of players.
The association is pleased that FIFA have once again upheld the principle that players born in Northern Ireland should be free to choose whether they wish to play for the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.
The FAI will now meet with its legal advisors to review in detail the proposals contained in the FIFA letter before formulating a response.
The IFA asked FIFA to intervene after complaining of attempts by the FAI to groom young players and were particularly upset by Gibsons defection.
The 20-year-old, who was born in Derry and would not ordinarily qualify to play for any team apart from Northern Ireland, is currently on loan at Coca-Cola Championship side Wolves.
He represented Northern Ireland at U-16 level, but has since turned out for the Republic in Euro 2008 qualifiers.
Re:Irish Football
Delighted to read that. Seems common sense might have spoken.
Re:Irish Football
This Howard Wellls fella annoys me.
IFA anger at Irish football plan
Darron Gibson
Darron Gibson has elected to play for the Republic of Ireland
The Irish Football Association is to take legal advice over a suggestion that players from Ireland could opt to play for either NI or the Republic.
The proposal was put forward by soccer’s world governing body, FIFA, which has outlined its view on a long-running dispute.
FIFA became involved following the Republic’s call-up of Darren Gibson who was born in Northern Ireland.
The final decision will be made by FIFA’s executive committee.
IFA chief executive Howard Wells told the BBC that the FIFA proposal was “totally inconsistent with the body’s own rules which apply to the other 206 countries in FIFA”.
"I am extremely surprised about this, to say the least, staggered in fact.
"All we are asking is for FIFA to apply their own rules consistently to all members of their organisation.
“This proposal flies in the face of what was said to us just a few weeks ago at a meeting in Zurich.”
FIFA’s legal committee wrote to Irish FA officials in the north and their FAI counterparts in the Republic outlining their view.
Feedback
The IFA had expected FIFA to back its argument that players born in the north should turn out for Northern Ireland.
FIFA said it had asked for feedback from the two associations.
The FAI has welcomed the latest stance from FIFA.
“We are pleased that FIFA has once again upheld the principle that players born in Northern Ireland should be free to choose whether they wish to play for the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland,” said an FAI statement.
“The FAI will now meet with its legal advisors to review in detail the proposals contained in the FIFA letter before formulating a response.”
On-loan Wolves midfielder Darron Gibson recently played for the Republic in a Euro 2008 qualifier.
He was born in Londonderry in Northern Ireland but elected to switch to the Republic after representing the north at Under-16 level.
Re:Irish Football
great work by the FAI - huge credit to them if its true-
Seems like this isn’t over yet.
IFA said yesterday that FIFA have decided on new rules which will involve guys from the 6 counties having to meet 2 criteria to play for the 26:
- have a parent or grandparent from the 26
- have lived uninterrupted in the 26 for at least 2 years
FAI say they know nothing about this new interpretation.
That second ruling sickens me and is totally at variance with the GFA. So a guy from Newry or South Armagh who’s lived there all his life before, say, moving abroad to take up a professional contract won’t be eligible because he didn’t spend 2 years living in the 26 counties. That’s blatantly wrong. Anyone up for marching in protest?