Wells unhappy with FIFA 'eligibility' proposal

The Irish Football Association have been “staggered” by a FIFA proposal to settle the eligibility row with the Football Association of Ireland.

World football’s governing body – invited to rule on the issue by the IFA - have suggested that players born on both sides of the border should be able to represent Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland.

However, IFA chief executive Howard Wells told the BBC that the FIFA compromise was “totally inconsistent with the body’s own rules which apply to the other 206 countries in FIFA”.

Wells added: “I am extremely surprised about this, to say the least, staggered in fact.

“All we are asking is for FIFA to apply their own rules consistently to all members of their organisation.”

The issue has been brought to a head by the case of Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson, who was born in Northern Ireland and played for the Province at under-16 level before switching allegiance to the Republic of Ireland.

Gibson, on-loan at Wolves, recently appeared for the Republic in a Euro 2008 qualifier even though he would not ordinarily be eligible to play for Steve Staunton’s side because neither he, his parent nor his grandparents were born south of the border.

The Football Association of Ireland believe they are entitled to pursue players born in Northern Ireland under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, which guarantees the right of anyone born anywhere on the island of Ireland to apply for an Irish passport.

The Good Friday Agreement was part of the Northern Ireland peace process and endorsed in 1998 by voters across Ireland in separate referendums.

The FIFA proposal would enshrine this right for football purposes, as well as the right of a player from south of the border to represent Northern Ireland.

Given few footballers from the Republic are likely to want to play for the North's team, the IFA would have little to gain from agreeing to the recommendation.

However, the proposal – which effectively upholds the status quo – has been welcomed by the FAI.

FIFA will listen to submissions from both bodies before a ruling is made by their executive committee, although IFA boss Wells has hinted he will consider legal advice.

A FIFA spokesman told the Belfast Telegraph: “The current situation is that for the Irish Football Association, players can choose also to play for the Football Association of Ireland, but the vice-versa is not possible.

“With the objective to find an amicable solution which is acceptable for both member associations the FIFA Legal Committee has made the following new proposal: any player holding the nationality of the Republic of Ireland that was born on the territory of the Republic of Ireland would, by agreement between the two associations, also be eligible for the representative teams of the Irish Football Association.”

Meanwhile, uncapped Scunthorpe striker Martin Paterson has been called into Northern Ireland’s squad for their final two Euro 2008 qualifiers against Denmark and Spain later this month.

The 20-year-old, who has scored seven goals in 15 matches for the Coca-Cola Championship club this season, has been promoted from the under-21s.

Ireland will play Denmark on November 17 at Windsor Park before they travel to face Spain on November 21 in Gran Canaria.

Fulham defender Chris Baird and Cardiff forward Warren Feeney return to the squad after missing last month’s 1-1 draw due to suspension.

Burnley striker Kyle Lafferty is included in the squad despite being suspended for the Denmark game.