FIFA propose solution to eligibility row
Tuesday, 6 November 2007FIFA has sent a letter to the football associations of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland suggesting that players from either side of the border should have free choice about who they play for.
The proposal was formulated by FIFA's legal committee in response to a long-running argument between the two FAI and IFA over the selection of international players.
Currently, players born in Northern Ireland are generally eligible to turn out for the Republic of Ireland providing they have not yet played a competitive match for Northern Ireland but the same does not apply in reverse.
Under the new suggestion put forward by world soccer's governing body, players born in the Republic of Ireland and holding Irish nationality could choose to play for Northern Ireland.
FIFA said on Tuesday it had sent the proposal to the two associations and asked for their feedback.
It added that any final decision on the matter would have to be approved by FIFA's executive committee.
A FIFA spokesman said that no deadline had yet been set for that decision.
The case of Darron Gibson, a former Northern Ireland schoolboy player who has since been selected for Ireland, particularly infuriated the IFA, which wanted FIFA to ban future changes of allegiance.
The FAI welcomed the decision by FIFA and described it as 'a common sense approach'.
'In principle we are very happy with the decision and delighted that common sense has prevailed,' FAI chief executive John Delaney told Reuters news agency.
'We will discuss and evaluate the proposal put forward. We have worked hard behind the scenes with FIFA to reach a compromise which was right. It is good news for Irish football.'
