Player Eligibility in the Irish Context

tetsujin1979

Following the recent controversies of players declaring for the Republic of Ireland with their qualification based on they, or their parents or grandparents, being born in Northern Ireland, one of the posters on foot.ie, DannyInvincible, has performed extensive research into how a player qualifies, and the rumours, myths and falsehoods associated with it.

His findings have been posted on this comprehensive blog entry and I invite you all to take the time to read through it to answer any questions, and dispell any misgivings you might have, about this matter of contention: http://playereligibilityinireland.blogspot.com/2011/06/fifa-player-eligibility-in-context-of.html

There's a facebook page set up for debating any point of the document, should you wish to do so: http://www.facebook.com/pages/FIFA-Player-Eligibility-in-the-Context-of-Ireland/112663095492254

MrStuffins

Good read. Well done to DannyInvincible for putting the time in.

Neil3030

The author's partisanship is palpable throughout the piece, but otherwise an interesting article.

DoireNod

Of course it's partisan.
It's a blatant and powerful defence of the right of Irish nationals to play for an Irish national sports team in the face of aggressive opposition from the IFA and its fans.

In no way should partisanship detract from that principle.

Fr Tod Umptious

DoireNod wrote: »

Of course it's partisan.
It's a blatant and powerful defence of the right of Irish nationals to play for an Irish national sports team in the face of aggressive opposition from the IFA and its fans.

In no way should partisanship detract from that principle.

As long as the players involved exercise that right at an early stage, and not after they have played a senior international friendly for NI, I don't mind.

DoireNod

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

As long as the players involved exercise that right at an early stage, and not after they have played a senior international friendly for NI, I don't mind.

I see where you're coming from. I wouldn't mind that if that was in the rules of FIFA, but it isn't so you'll have to accept that a few may do so. Like Alex Bruce has recently done by switching from ROI to NI. Nice move by Nigel Worthington to undermine the alleged integrity of those NI fans. First he says he wants all players in the north of Ireland to stay with the north of Ireland and next he 'steals' another ROI player (including Johnny Gorman) who has a few senior caps. It would make a great play.