FIFA eligibility- new and re-worded

[Main Street]

You couldn't script this drama, it just encapsulates Unionist mind set to a tee.

FIFA came out with a rewording of the Eligibility rule Article 15, and added in 3 new articles  nr 16 17 and an 18.

FIFA stated that there would be no change to the legality and that they were just bringing different bits of eligibility legislation together together.

Essentially  there is no change,

Irish footballers born in the North fall under Article 15

New Article 16 is about the conditions for  one nationality who can play for different countries, like the UK British passport holders.

Article 15 has been reworded as

Any person holding a
permanent nationality
that is not dependent
on residence in a certain
country is eligible to play
for the representative teams
of the Association of that
country.

You would think that is clear, that it could not be clearer that that is written as if they were thinking of Irish citizenship.
That the state of Ireland grants unconditional permanent citizenship to (almost) all people born in Ireland

BUT the the Belfast Telegraph
screams out   "Northern footballers to face tougher rules if they want to play for the Republic"

The IFA are in a cloud cuckoo land and think that FIFA have all of a sudden out of the blue ruled in their favour.

The BBC are kissing the arses of the IFA and think that FIFA have ruled in the IFA favour

The IFA and 99.99% of the OWC  are creaming themselves.


The FAI know that there has been no change.

[Hereiam]

Its crazy how the Unionist papers can spin this in their favour. The thing is when the average Mervin reads his paper today he will think that the union is safe for another while yet.

[Donagh]

You do have to feel sorry for them a little bit though. Every time the IFA declare victory, OWC and the Tele start celebrating. Even little EG fell for it this time... 

[AZOffaly]

It's not only the Unionist papers, or the northern unionist papers at least. The Irish 'Independent' has the following article, which is the same in tone..

THE FAI and FIFA look set to be on a collision course after the rules regarding outside players' eligibility for representing their chosen Association were tightened at the FIFA congress in Sydney last weekend.

The rule amendments have specific significance to players from Northern Ireland who choose to play for the Republic.

The FIFA regulation changes mean that any player from Northern Ireland who does not possess parents or grandparents from the Republic must have lived in the Republic for two or more years in order to represent Ireland.

Those conditions are in addition to, rather than an alternative to, the criteria that a player must hold the relevant passport, that is in this case, a Republic of Ireland one.

Agreement

This, however, is completely at odds with the belief of the FAI that if a Northern Irish player simply holds an Irish passport under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, he is able to represent the Republic.

An FAI spokesperson said in response to the FIFA amendment last night: "We do not believe there has been any change to FIFA's stated position that any player from Northern Ireland is eligible to play for the North or for the Republic of Ireland."

The article does state, however, that two Associations may make an agreement under which this rule can be completely deleted or amended again to specify a longer time limit.

The rule change comes after a bitter row erupted between the FAI and the Northern Irish Football Association, the IFA, over the eligibility of Manchester United youngster Darron Gibson.

The 20-year-old, currently on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers, was born in Derry but holds an Irish passport and despite playing as a youth for Northern Ireland, chose to represent the senior Republic of Ireland team.

Although the IFA disputed his eligibility to play for the Irish team, Gibson made his debut for the Republic under Steve Staunton in August 2007 in a 4-0 friendly win over Denmark in Aarhus.

I embolded the bits I thought were particularly interesting.

[Donagh]

It's not only the Unionist papers, or the northern unionist papers at least. The Irish 'Independent' has the following article, which is the same in tone..

THE FAI and FIFA look set to be on a collision course after the rules regarding outside players' eligibility for representing their chosen Association were tightened at the FIFA congress in Sydney last weekend.

The rule amendments have specific significance to players from Northern Ireland who choose to play for the Republic.

The FIFA regulation changes mean that any player from Northern Ireland who does not possess parents or grandparents from the Republic must have lived in the Republic for two or more years in order to represent Ireland.

Those conditions are in addition to, rather than an alternative to, the criteria that a player must hold the relevant passport, that is in this case, a Republic of Ireland one.

Agreement

This, however, is completely at odds with the belief of the FAI that if a Northern Irish player simply holds an Irish passport under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, he is able to represent the Republic.

An FAI spokesperson said in response to the FIFA amendment last night: "We do not believe there has been any change to FIFA's stated position that any player from Northern Ireland is eligible to play for the North or for the Republic of Ireland."

The article does state, however, that two Associations may make an agreement under which this rule can be completely deleted or amended again to specify a longer time limit.

The rule change comes after a bitter row erupted between the FAI and the Northern Irish Football Association, the IFA, over the eligibility of Manchester United youngster Darron Gibson.

The 20-year-old, currently on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers, was born in Derry but holds an Irish passport and despite playing as a youth for Northern Ireland, chose to represent the senior Republic of Ireland team.

Although the IFA disputed his eligibility to play for the Irish team, Gibson made his debut for the Republic under Steve Staunton in August 2007 in a 4-0 friendly win over Denmark in Aarhus.

I embolded the bits I thought were particularly interesting.

The Irish Independent and the Belfast Tele are published by the same people.

[AZOffaly]

But presumably the editorial control and content is different?

[Donagh]

But presumably the editorial control and content is different?

I wouldn't bet on it. I noticed quite a bit of crossover particularly with their online content.

[Main Street]

They should have the Belfast T. listed first  (alphabetically) amongst the Indo's regional papers.

[snatter]

The INdo is a partitionist rag - they've always had an anti northern nationist bias.

[Main Street]

You do have to feel sorry for them a little bit though. Every time the IFA declare victory, OWC and the Tele start celebrating. Even little EG fell for it this time... 

As somebody said somewhere, it's like the end of a boxing contest, two boxers both raise their hand in victory,  not a mark on one and handsome as ever, the other one battered to pulp like Jake le Motta.

[Hound]

When I read about this on RTE Aertel yesterday (page 227), they had "Londonderry-born Darron Gibson" contained in the article! But I see this morning they've removed the London element 

[red hander]

You couldn't script this drama, it just encapsulates Unionist mind set to a tee.

FIFA came out with a rewording of the Eligibility rule Article 15, and added in 3 new articles  nr 16 17 and an 18.

FIFA stated that there would be no change to the legality and that they were just bringing different bits of eligibility legislation together together.

Essentially  there is no change,

Irish footballers born in the North fall under Article 15

New Article 16 is about the conditions for  one nationality who can play for different countries, like the UK British passport holders.

Article 15 has been reworded as

Any person holding a
permanent nationality
that is not dependent
on residence in a certain
country is eligible to play
for the representative teams
of the Association of that
country.

You would think that is clear, that it could not be clearer that that is written as if they were thinking of Irish citizenship.
That the state of Ireland grants unconditional permanent citizenship to (almost) all people born in Ireland

BUT the the Belfast Telegraph
screams out   "Northern footballers to face tougher rules if they want to play for the Republic"

The IFA are in a cloud cuckoo land and think that FIFA have all of a sudden out of the blue ruled in their favour.

The BBC are kissing the arses of the IFA and think that FIFA have ruled in the IFA favour

The IFA and 99.99% of the OWC  are creaming themselves.


The FAI know that there has been no change.

The Belfast Telegraph has, from the outset, misinterpreted the FIFA line due to nothing else than the basic stupidity of their sports reporters.  This is the same organ that informed us recently that Rangers' Steve Davis was the first player from 'province' to appear in a European final  since Martin O'Neill for Forest.  How could they forget about Neil Lennon?  The same Neil Lennon the very owc supporters, that the Tele hail as the best in the world, who forced him to retire from 'province' through blatant bigotry.  How could they forget about Neil Lennon? The same Neil Lennon who the Tele's main football columnist hinted at the time had somehow conspired to have threatening phonecalls made to himself to warn him not to play for owc again, and that, not the owc's disgraceful behaviour at windsor park, was to blame for his retirement (the phonecalls were traced to Rathcoole).

The IFA's line on this is based on bigotry and nothing else... ie to prevent northern 'neshinalists' exerting their right to play for their country, the country whose passport they possess

[T Fearon]

Aretel, our state broadcaster's teletext service reported on this yesterday and stated and I quote that the issue came to a head over "Londonderry lad Darron Gibson".

[magickingdom]

as i've said before it matters not a wit what the ifa think nor for that matter what fifa think as in law they will not be able to differentiate between passport holders of the one country. all one has to do is look at the mess that blatter is in with his 6+5 rule, total bullshit and cant happen. fifa can make up any rules they like as long as they dont break any laws.. que 40 pages of sammy and evil g

[TacadoirArdMhacha]

When are you getting thos erules from Main Street. If your right then even RTE and the SDLP have fallen for the propaganda! Not that they'd be immune to getting things entirely wrong.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2008/0602/fai.html