Tuesday, November 06, 2007
FIFA suggests “amicable solution which is acceptable for both member associations”
FIFA certainly seem to have been doing some brainstorming in an effort to get out of the pickle being caused by the ongoing controversy about the eligibility of footballers in Ireland.
Football’s ruling body has just informed Slugger that they have put forward a proposal (reproduced in full below the fold) that means someone born in Cork could play for Northern Ireland while someone born in Belfast could play for the Republic of Ireland. Now all that remains to be seen is if the FAI and IFA are amenable to the suggestion.
I wonder what the fans will think when they read this in tomorrow’s newspapers?
The FIFA Legal Committee discussed the matter of the eligibility to play for the Irish Football Association and the Football Association of Ireland at its meeting on 28 October 2007 and sent the following clarification:
“The current situation is such that, for the Irish Football Association, players can choose also to play for the representative teams of the Football Association of Ireland but the vice-versa is not possible.
With the objective, as always, to find an amicable solution which is acceptable for both member associations concerned as well as for FIFA, the FIFA Legal Committee has now made the following new proposal: any player holding the nationality of the Republic of Ireland and consequently, in principle, being eligible to play for the representative teams of the Football Association of Ireland, that was born on the territory of the Republic of Ireland, would, by agreement between the two associations, also be eligible for the representative teams of the Irish Football Association.
In other words, every player born on the territory of Northern Ireland, holding the UK nationality and being entitled to a passport of the Republic of Ireland or born on the territory of the Republic of Ireland and holding the Irish nationality could either play for the Football Association of Ireland or the Irish Football Association, under the condition that all other relevant prerequisites pertaining to a player’s eligibility for a specific association team (see FIFA Statutes - Art. 15 of the Regulations governing the FIFA Statutes are fulfilled.
FIFA has informed the Irish Football Association and the Football Association of Ireland today (November 6) about this proposal and asked both associations for a feedback.
Ultimately, it will be up to the FIFA Executive Committee to take a decision.”
I have to say that I for one did not see this one coming.
George @ 04:53 PM
Load of balls. Let FIFA instruct the FAI to abide by the rules....and let the cute hoors of the FAI show a little respect to NI.
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 05:22 PMThere is an even neater solution - merge the two bodies - have one football team that everyone can support. Maybe then one of the teams will be able to get and hold onto a half decent manager for an entire qualification camapign and yes people here could have a local team to back at the Euro and World Cups.
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 05:27 PMI’ll tell the natives of Cork they’re all eligible for the 6 county team, that should get a few belly laughs in the pub.
In fairness though, seems like a compromise and the Irishmen, Irish passport holders from the north can play for the team they feel most comfortable playing for, which seems to be the (rep of) Ireland. Kevin Myers, Fintan O’Toole and Colm Toibin can now play for their beloved British Northern Ireland and the fellah with the East Donegal flag at Windsor park ,although I’d say the first three dislike footy, too common, too prole.
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 05:30 PMGood solution. Now everyone can be happy, no one needs to change their flag waving habits.
iluvni
I’d say that FIFA are the cute hoors here! No way were they going to start telling someone their nationality.Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 05:46 PMSeems fair enough. I can’t see how either the IFA or FAI can object to this. What would be their grounds for objecting? Even if they do FIFA will impose it anyway. It’s the obvious solution.
1-0 to FAI I would say.Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 05:58 PMSeems like a fairly creative solution
Ironically this would bring us back to the situation we had up til the Troubles, where the Belfast-based Association was the de jure all-Ireland football body, selected players from all over Ireland (all right, that’s a bit further back) and and its teams played as “Ireland”.
Indeed this idea of FIFA’s would create a situation where situation where theoretically, we’ll have two all-Ireland teams.
Talk about an Irish solution to an Irish problem!
I could see a lot of journeymen pros looking to Belfast and dreaming of international football.
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 06:01 PMI’d heard FIFA had suggested it but both Associaions had rejected it. I am surprised.
The IFA would be nuts not to go for it. In football terms, even taking into account they’d be second choice for most Irish passport holders, it opens up a much bigger potential playing pool. And it makes the IFA more Nationalist friendly. I doubt the FAI are too pleased, though.
Interested to see how it pans out.
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 06:11 PMInteresting. Is Stephen Ireland eligible to go North? he’s not that keen on the RoI set up and they’ll love his Superman undies at Windsor.
No doubt those who describe the FAI as a breakaway organistion and the IFA as the legitimate ruling body for Irish Soccer will welcome this decision with open arms!
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 06:13 PMRealist, Willowfield, Dr. Who, Nerdy Nigel Worthington, Kate Hoey, Jackie McDonald, the strange bloke who got Jim Boyce’s job, the crap journalists in the Sunday Life, -YOUR BOYS TOOK A HELLUVA BEATING!!!!
As Alan McDonald would say ‘themmuns who think it was a fix, c’mon n’ see me and say ‘at!’
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 06:13 PMthe ROI and NI might be happy but there might be other countries (Cyprus perhaps?) looking for similar partitionist-cake-having-and-eating deals…
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 06:35 PMI think FIFA have come up with a very sensible solution.
If players born in the North are to have the right to opt for the RoI (which they should!), then it seems only fair that the reverse should apply.
As Billy P said “an Irish solution to an Irish problem”.
This issue put FIFA on the spot and this is a sensible compromise.
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 06:36 PMExcellent. ROI as the all-Ireland firsts, with NI providing a good all-Ireland seconds.
Everyone gets to know each other a little better along the way. 6-7 years should be enough for even the lunatics to come to terms with it and the first new AFI is launched. Excellent.
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 06:37 PMThat’s the Association of Football in Ireland by the way.
You’re welcome.
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 06:38 PMMark
“the ROI and NI might be happy but there might be other countries (Cyprus perhaps?) looking for similar partitionist-cake-having-and-eating deals…”
That would depend on the 2 respective govts reaching and ratifying an agreement such as the GFA. In the case of Cyprus, this is extremely unlikely to say the least.
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 06:50 PMFrank Sinistra laughs at Dr. Who, Willowfield etc.
Lap it up lads.
Slap it right up ye, ye preemptive and ridiculous looking out-flanked gloaters.
Now the FAI get their way and Nationalists despise your team. Result.
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 06:57 PMIFA - Orange State team
A total disolution of the Northern Irish Team is the only way that a solution can be had to this spiralling fiasco!
An All Ireland Team is the only long term solution just like an All Ireland State.
The Team could and should play in Green (For the Catholics) White (for Peace & Maybe Unity) & Orange for the Windsor Park mob.
Oh what a wonderful world it could be?
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 07:00 PMGlad that FIFA has recognised the inherent unfairness of depriving Darron Gibson, Michael O’Connor and the next generation of northern players the right to play for the Irish team despite the best(worst?) efforts of the IFA.
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 07:01 PMThose who appear to be nationalists who are gloating at the IFA here are missing a big part of the point I think.
Not everyone in ROI who wants international experience get on to the ROI team. I think everyone is going to be surprised by the numbers of southern second tier footballers who will look north as a way to prove themselves on the international scene.
Hence, ROI will become all-Ireland first team and NI the second team. Healthy rivalry between the two will be good, but so too will the fact that the increasing crossover of players from both jurisdictions playing in the other jurisdiction will encourage more people from both to support both.
Talk about NI becoming the Orange team is silly nonsense. This suggestion, if adopted, will have the opposite effect.
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 07:10 PM“Those who appear to be nationalists who are gloating at the IFA here are missing a big part of the point I think. “
It also isn’t finalised yet - both Associations could have a fit. So gloating is an incredibly stupid idea.
And it is more beneficial to the IFA than the FAI, so doubly stupid.
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 07:20 PMNow the FAI get their way and Nationalists despise your team.
Frank Sinistra,
So, what’s new?
And if it does goes this way, the IFA and the Northern Ireland supporters will have lost sweet f-a squared.
You “despised” us before, you’ll “despise” us in the future; despite all your hatred, life (and football) will go on just as it did before.
em>FIFA has informed the Irish Football Association and the Football Association of Ireland today (November 6) about this proposal and asked both associations for a feedback.</em>
And regarding the FAU getting their way, asking for “feedback”, would appear to indicate that this not the final decision:
FIFA has informed the Irish Football Association and the Football Association of Ireland today (November 6) about this proposal and asked both associations for a feedback.
Oh look, it isn’t the final decision:
Ultimately, it will be up to the FIFA Executive Committee to take a decision.â€
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 07:21 PMURQUHART
I can’t speak for other Nationalist posters here but, for myself, I think that this is a fair and equitable suggestion.
All I ever wanted was for players born in the North to have the choice to play for the RoI if they wish. I see the RoI as representing me, not NI and I believe that the GFA gave anyone born in the North Irish citizenship from birth if they wish to avail of it.
If any player born in the North (regardless of creed) chooses NI over the RoI, that’s no problem for me. It is the denial of choice that is wrong.
My objection was purely to the IFA who were, imo, trying to deny Nationalists born in the north one of their legitimate rights as Irish citizens.
As I said earlier, if players from the North have the right to opt for the RoI or NI, then I think it’s only right and proper that the reciprocal right is open to players from the RoI.
This seems a very fair compromise and, if the IFA were to reject it, then it would really show them up.
I agree with you about RoI born players perhaps opting for NI. There will obviously be players who are unlikely to get a full RoI cap and would be much more likely to get a NI cap.
If a player is a full international, it gives his agent stronger bargaining power for club wages etc. Money talks - so I think it’s entirely possible that, if this proposal becomes reality, certain RoI born players could opt for NI in the future.
However, if this did happen, I’d be interested to see what type of reception they would get at Windsor.
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 07:27 PMoneil after this do you honestly think it will still go your way come on wise up
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 07:29 PMmh87
I said the final decision hasn’t been made yet, am I right or wrong, in that?Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 07:33 PMBilly
“I believe that the GFA gave anyone born in the North Irish citizenship from birth if they wish to avail of it.”
No it didn’t. Irish nationality legislation did that long before 1998.
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 07:37 PMOh come on now after this will they really be able to rule against the FAI and nationalist players and can the ifa really object to this it would put them in a very bad light
Posted by on Nov 06, 2007 @ 07:38 PM
