South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

FIFA Ruling Needs Challenged

Published: 24 October, 2007

Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey has called on FIFA to acknowledge that the Good Friday Agreement is an international agreement that allows persons born in the North to be designated as Irish citizens and therefore be eligible to play soccer for the soccer team in the 26 counties.

Mr Maskey said,

"While I welcome the FIFA ruling on Derry born Darren Gibson that he may represent the Republic of Ireland at international level the decision that any future player must either be born in or have parents or grandparents born within the 26 counties contravenes the Good Friday Agreement.

"Many young Nationalists hold Irish passports and therefore come under the protection of the Irish state under international law and FIFA must recognise that the Good Friday Agreement is an international agreement that recognises this right.

"Both the Irish Government and FAI must now stand up and protect the integrity of the Good Friday Agreement and meet with FIFA in order to have this problem rectified.

"I will be working with the Sinn Féin TD's in the Dail to ensure that those people born in the North who designate themselves as Irish have the same rights and entitlements under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement as those born within the 26 Counties including representing their country through sport.