Do you think the Irish Football association (NI) have any right to complain?

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2010/0301…





The IFA up north have started to complain about Northern born players opting to play for the Republic ahead of Northern Ireland. They say it puts them at a disadvantage but who are they to dictate what nationality a person sees themselves as and what choice they make?


Current rules say that anyone born on the Island of Ireland can choose to play for either team , because if someone up north considers themselves 100% Irish then they probably would not feel comfortable playing for a British entity , so have the IFA a right to dictate to players who they should play for or should the players allowed to do what they want?





With this complaint do you think they have a leg to stand on?





I don't want to get too political but isn't this case they're putting stamp all over a particular agreement made in the GFA about national identity?|||In my opinion no, and the IFA have themselves to blame for this. It is now widely acknowledged by both sides of “the divide” in the North that Windsor Park (Home ground for Northern Ireland) was a “cold house” for Catholics for many years. The chants sung at matches were intimating for those from a Catholic/Nationalist background and in many cases were sectarian in nature.





Martin O’Neill (currently Aston Villa manager) played for Northern Ireland and was booed by his own “supporters” when he captained the side – this because he was a Catholic. More recently Neil Lennon was similarly booed by his own fans because he was Catholic and played for Celtic FC. Neil Lennon had to retire from the team because he subsequently received Loyalist death threats.





It was even judged unsafe for Derry City to play in the IFA home leagues (which is why they play in the ROI ones)





I appreciate that these issues were not condoned by the IFA in any way - but they were far to slow to remedy this. They should have acted sooner by welcoming and encouraging support from all communities in the North. They failed to this.





Basically everyone I went to school with (and I went to school in “Northern Ireland”) support the Republic of Ireland over Northern Ireland any day. I do have mates who are Northern Ireland supporters but we come from different “backgrounds” – they went to different schools if you get my drift.





Ireland lets face it has very unique problems and while I appreciate the IFA is not acting out of political motives the implications are very political. I don’t think its for the IFA to start trying to rubber stamp everyone born in the North as eligible to only play for Northern Ireland - and as such be forced to stand for God Save the Queen every time they want to play international footy.





One particular case that made the headlines was a lad from Derry city who played for Derry City in the ROI leagues. Then he gets called up for ROI – A portion of northern politicians move in and say “No! He should only be allowed to play for NI!” (Eh???)





Though I appreciate a lot has been did in more recent years to make the grounds less sectarian, the IFA have acted to late for many us. I also appreciate the IFA put investiture in players that they can subsequently lose but its out of their control. Period.





Lets face it the rules work both ways i.e. players in ROI if they want could choose to play for NI instead!





“That is very unlikely to happen!” I hear the IFA shout - at which point they should take a good hard look at themselves and ask “Why is it unlikely to happen?”





And that’s when they'll realise they only have themselves to blame.|||The Northern Ireland team is made up mostly of Protestants/Loyalists. Any Catholic who plays for Northern Ireland usually ends up being taunted by his own supporters, this happened to Neil Lennon. This tells you how bigoted that place still is. You can't blame any Catholic footballer from Northern Ireland who declares for the Republic if that's the way they're treated up there.





Another thing, Northern Ireland have a shyte team at the moment as well.|||NI wants it restricted to the grand parents rule so that only palyers with a grand parent or parent for example born in the republic could then declare for the Republic.


I think their position is fare enough, if these guys wanted to play for the Republic they should do so at an early age and not wait till just before they are about to be capped by NI to swap to the Republic. Lots of players swap to the Republic and swap back again when they cant get into the senior squad. Its a bit of a joke really|||its understandable that they are bothered by this. they have a small pond to fish from as it is. imagine if you were the president of the tibetan football association and tibetan born players wanted to play for china.





EDIT: well its about honor. the irish should have a team that isnt a part of the UK|||If they aren't comfortable playing for NI, then they are more than welcome to play for the Republic. I don't think the rules need to be changed.





Let's be honest, the football in NI is very poor. Two of their best teams both lost 3-0 to Dublin teams last weekend.|||Anyone from the north or anywhere else on the island of ireland are entitled to play with the republic if they choose. I think we should merge both teams into one like it is in rugby.|||I agree with what Podge %26amp; Rodge has said %26amp; yourself.....why would a Catholic Irish person choose to play for mainly a Protestant NI side if they have the choice ....