You said originally "What I find bizarre is that players born in Northern Ireland can qualify for the Republic, but not vice versa". So, what is bizarre? I have explained to you the reasons why that is the case. Is it less bizarre now?
I don't think you understand. Saying it is bizarre that Norden Oirishmen want to play for the Republic is not the same as saying FIFA allowing them to is. I said the latter. I did not say the former. Fancy a bum?
God, are they all like you in Southend? If you read my explaination, you would understand that FIFA or UEFA have no choice but to allow them. There is a political agreement in place which covers this exact eventuality. ie. the people on both sides of the equation have accepted each other's right to their own nationality. Who are FIFA or UEFA to say that such a democratic internationally recognised political agreement is not reason enough to allow players to choose which side they wish to represent? If they did wish to take the FAI to task over the matter, the court case would last about 10 minutes before it was laughed out of court. UEFA/FIFA obviously have legal advice to this effect and indeed they have arbitratred on the matter between the two associations and found in favour of the FAI. By the way, Alex Bruce played for the Republic and then switched to the North so there is a precedent there in terms of players going the other way, just far less of them. Another reason why people in the 26 counties don't want to play for the 6 counties is the treatment dished out to Neil Lennon because he was captain of Celtic and the 6 counties. What did some of the people in the 6 counties do, they hung effigies of him hanging from lamp posts because they couldn't accept a Celtic player as their captain. Would you play for such a "country". Consider what I have said before responding. I'm off to bed now.
I've learnt already that trying to talk to you is like talking to a brick wall. I stopped reading when you threw in a random jibe about Southend (a town I've never visited). Nighty night.
Who's SUFC then if it's not Southend? Sunderland? You stopped reading what I said because you haven't accepted any of my explainations and you have zero come back against them. That's why. Simple. How bizarre, how bizarre.
You are lecturing a Serbian on Serbian matters and then proceed to lecture Irish posters on Irish matters, well done.
Thank you. I have close friends from Serbia and Croatia, who were actually born there It's hard to know that someone is of Serb origin just from reading one post that makes no mention of the fact on a sports forum, idiot. Also, I haven't lecture anyone about Ireland. I said it was bizarre that FIFA allowed people to play for a country they weren't born in.
That's actually somewhat different to what you said initially. You said it was bizarre that northern players could play for the south but not vice versa. You didn't say it was bizarre that they were allowed play for the ROI full stop. But like I said, I was always under the impression that ROI players could opt for NI if they so wished also.
Erik, you still don't get it about the Republic of Ireland's long standing claim to the entire ISLAND of Ireland do you. It is recognized by law that a person born in Northern IRELAND is born on the ISLAND of IRELAND. Therefore as part of the ongoing peace treaty, it was agreed that those born north of the border, who consider themselves to be Irish by virtue of the fact that they were born on the ISLAND of IRELAND and I have to presume the vast majority of them would be from the Catholic community, would prefer to represent the Republic of Ireland rather than Northern Ireland which forms part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It's a small and recent compromise agreement within the much larger political and social agenda that has been going on for centuries. It is not Bizarre, it is logical and makes sense.
and is obviously much more important in the context of that process than who plays for which national team. See what you started Jack? Perspective.
Look, chaps, I know what I meant even if nobody else does. Can we not just have an orgy and then forget about it?
