Blatter backs Republic's stance

Dub13 · Mar 3, 2009

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7917738.stm

Blatter backs Republic's stance

Fifa president Sepp Blatter is reported to have sided with the Republic of Ireland in the player eligibility row with Northern Ireland.

The Irish FA thought they had secured a ruling preventing players from Northern Ireland opting for the Republic.

But Blatter has said that if a player from the north had an Irish passport he could choose to play for the Republic.

The Irish FA, the governing body in Northern Ireland, said it would be seeking clarification from Fifa.

They felt Fifa had ruled that to qualify to play for a country a player had to be born there, have a parent or grandparent born there, or have lived there continuously for two years.

But Blatter told the Sunday Life newspaper: "As the Fifa legal committee understood the issue, the situation in Northern Ireland is such that all Northern Irish players could opt to play for both Association teams, given that they have a birthright to an Irish passport.

"Ireland is an exceptional case because of the political situation."
The Fifa chief was in Northern Ireland for the International FA Board meeting being held in Newcastle, County Down.

A definite verdict on the thorny issue is expected to be taken by Fifa's executive committee on 20 March.

If Blatter's view is confirmed it will be a blow to the to the Irish FA.
They invest heavily in grassroots development and are worried that the Republic could cherry pick some of the best emerging players.

Gary McAllister, Chairman of the Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters' Clubs told the BBC that players born within Northern Ireland should play for the country of their birth.

"My concern would be that this would give the FAI an unfair advantage over every other team in international football as they would be the only nation who could pick players from another jurisdiction.

"I don't want to see a situation where a Northern Ireland team is representative of only one section of the community.

"I want a Northern Ireland team made up of the best players players from both sections of the community."

Former Lord Mayor of Belfast Jim Rodgers said that any ruling allowing players born in Northern Ireland to play for the Republic would be "grossly unfair".

"Politics should never be brought into sport and if Mr Blatter's sentiments are expressed in the ruling, that would put Northern Ireland at a strong disadvantage.

"The ruling would only work one way and would not allow players born in the Republic to play for Northern Ireland."

North Antrim Sinn Fein MLA Daithi McKay disagreed, saying that "many tens of thousands of people in the North support the southern-based team".

"It is the birthright of anyone who has an Irish passport to play for an Irish team.

"If a player does not want to play for a team, they should be able to play for the team for which they have an allegiance.

"It is about freedom of choice and politicians should not force players to play for teams against their will.
"I adhere to the Irish soccer team based in Dublin but would not force that allegiance on anyone else."
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Blatter backs Republic's stance

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Blatter backs Republic's stance

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