View source for FIFA eligibility rules

{{Short description|Rules to determine player participation}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
In [[association football]], the '''FIFA eligibility rules''' are the specific eligibility criteria that [[FIFA]] (International Association Football Federation), as the sports governing body, have established in order to facilitate representative team selection for international competitions.<ref name="fifa.com 2021 e961">{{cite web | title=FIFA publishes explainer on eligibility to play for representative teams | website=fifa.com | date=2021-01-28 | url=https://www.fifa.com/legal/media-releases/fifa-publishes-explainer-on-eligibility-to-play-for-representative-teams | access-date=2023-07-23}}</ref> Specifically [[FIFA]] is responsible for the maintenance and implementation of the rules that determine whether an association football player is eligible to represent a particular national team in officially sanctioned international [[Association football#International competitions|competitions]] and [[friendly match]]es.<ref name="fifa.com 2021 e961"/>

The eligibility of athletes has traditionally been associated with the idea that the legal nationality of a competitor would broadly align with a representative nationality. In the first century of association football this application enabled players with more than one nationality to represent more than one country, particularly after naturalisation in a new country. However representative national teams are organised by national football associations and not all countries have associations affiliated with FIFA.<ref name="fifa.com 2021 e961"/> Meanwhile some countries have a plurality of associations such as United Kingdom being represented by the four constituent associations of England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland, while some associations represent regions that would not be typically recognised as an independent country with such as dependent territories (e.g. [[Gibraltar]]), autonomous states or territories (e.g. the [[Faroe Islands]], [[Kosovo]]) and enclaves or principalities or microstates (e.g. [[San Marino]]). Not all countries have an association affiliated with FIFA.<ref name="fifa.com 2021 e961"/>

In 2004 FIFA implemented a significant new ruling that requires a player to demonstrate a "clear connection" to any country they wish to represent in reaction to the growing trend towards naturalisation of foreign players in some countries. FIFA has used its authority to overturn results of competitive international matches that feature ineligible players. In January 2021 FIFA instituted a comprehensive revamp of the eligibility system, giving players who might otherwise have been tied to a representative nationality the ability to switch to another nation.

The fielding of ineligible players can result in sanctions including the overturning of results.

==History==
Historically, it was possible for players to play for different national teams. For example, [[Alfredo Di Stéfano]] played for [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] (1947) and [[Spain national football team|Spain]] (1957–61).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/distefano-intl.html|title=Alfredo Di Stéfano Laulhé - International Matches|access-date=2 September 2016|website=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]}}</ref>

Di Stefano's Real Madrid teammate [[Ferenc Puskás]] also played for Spain after amassing 85 [[Cap (sport)|cap]]s for [[Hungary national football team|Hungary]] earlier in his career.<ref name=guardian/> A third high-profile instance of a player switching international football nationalities is [[José Altafini]], who played for [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in the [[1958 FIFA World Cup]] and for [[Italy national football team|Italy]] in the subsequent [[1962 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/gattusos-avengers-alert-to-a-rafa-repeat-447637.html|title=Gattuso's avengers alert to a Rafa repeat|date=6 May 2007|access-date=27 July 2011|newspaper=[[The Independent]]}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2010/04/immigrant_pride_and_workingcla.html|title=Immigrant pride and working-class thrift|date=12 April 2010|access-date=27 July 2011|website=[[BBC Sport]]}}</ref>

Other 20th-century examples of players representing two or three separate countries are:
* [[Ernst Wilimowski]] – ([[Poland national football team|Poland]] and [[Germany national football team|Germany]])<ref name=rsssf1/>
* [[Joe Gaetjens]] – ([[United States men's national soccer team|United States]] and [[Haiti national football team|Haiti]])<ref name=rsssf1/>
* [[László Kubala]] – ([[Czechoslovakia national football team|Czechoslovakia]], Hungary and [[Spain national football team|Spain]])<ref name=guardian/><ref name=rsssf1/>
* [[Raimundo Orsi]] – (Argentina and Italy)<ref name=guardian/><ref name=rsssf1/>
* [[Luis Monti]] – (Argentina and Italy; the only person who played in two World Cup final matches for two different teams)<ref name=guardian/><ref name=rsssf1/>
* [[José Santamaría]] – ([[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] and [[Spain national football team|Spain]])<ref name=rsssf1/>
* [[Alberto Spencer]] – ([[Ecuador national football team|Ecuador]] and Uruguay)<ref name=rsssf1/>
* [[Paulino Alcántara]] – ([[Philippines national football team|Philippines]] and [[Spain national football team|Spain]])

This does not include the hundreds of players whose teams were affected by changes to geopolitical borders e.g. [[East Germany national football team|East Germany]]/[[Germany national football team|Germany]], [[Soviet Union national football team|Soviet Union]]/[[Ukraine national football team|Ukraine]], [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]]/[[Croatia national football team|Croatia]].

Furthermore, some international players have played for another FIFA-recognised country in unofficial international matches, i.e. fixtures not recognised by FIFA as full internationals. This category includes:
*  [[Daniel Brailovsky]], who played for [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] youth teams, was featured in camps for [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] and years later officially represented [[Israel national football team|Israel]].
* [[Debatik Curri]], an [[Albania national football team|Albania]] international, played in a friendly for [[Kosovo national football team|Kosovo]] in 2014, during the period when they were allowed to play against full national teams, but were not members of the confederations. He later played again competitively for Albania.<ref>[https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/9433/Debatik_Curri.html Curri, Debatik] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329183123/https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/9433/Debatik_Curri.html |date=29 March 2020 }}, National Football Teams</ref> Other players in that match subsequently switched formally from Albania to Kosovo when they began to play official matches.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/football/2014/05/22/turkey-beat-kosovo-in-friendly-61/amp |title=International Friendly: Kosovo 1 - 6 Turkey |date=22 May 2014|work=Daily Sabah |access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref>
* [[Barry Hayles]], the English-born [[Forward (association football)|forward]] played for the [[Cayman Islands national football team|Cayman Islands]] against [[D.C. United]] before later going on to represent [[Jamaica national football team|Jamaica]] at full international level.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/mar/05/theknowledge.sport |title=Footballers whose loved ones have told them who to play for |date=5 March 2008 |work=The Guardian |author1-last=McFarland |author1-first=Ben |author2-first=Paolo |author2-last=Bandini |access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref>
* [[England national football team|England]] international [[Gordon Hodgson]], who has an amateur cap for [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]].<ref name=rsssf1/>
* the aforementioned Di Stefano, who also has four caps for [[Colombia national football team|Colombia]]. These caps are not officially recognised due to a dispute between FIFA and the [[Colombian Football Federation]] at the time.<ref name=guardian>{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/apr/05/theknowledge.sport|title=Players who have been capped by more than one country|date=5 April 2006|access-date=27 July 2011|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>
* [[Michel Platini]] (France) who later (in 1988) played 21 minutes in a friendly for [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]] on invitation by the Emir.<ref name=rsssf1>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/double-caps.html |title=Players appearing for two or more countries |access-date=27 July 2011 |website=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803173844/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/double-caps.html |archive-date=3 August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/platini-intlg.html|title=Michel Platini – Goals in International Matches|access-date=5 August 2011|website=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rusteam.permian.ru/history/1988_18.html|script-title=ru:КУВЕЙТ – СССР – 0:2|access-date=26 January 2012|publisher=rusteam.permian.ru|language=ru}}</ref>

==Modern changes==
[[File:Sone Aluko 1.png|thumb|left|[[Sone Aluko]] originally represented [[England national under-19 football team|England]] at youth international level, before representing [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]] at senior international level]]

In January 2004, a new ruling came into effect that permitted a player to represent one country at youth international level and another at senior international level, provided that the player applied before their 21st birthday.<ref name=chassoc /> The first player to do so was [[Antar Yahia]], who played for the [[France national under-18 football team|France under-18s]] before representing [[Algeria national under-23 football team|Algeria]] in qualifiers for the [[2004 Olympic Games]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3365795.stm|title=French-born Algerian makes history|date=3 January 2004|access-date=28 July 2011|website=[[BBC Sport]]}}</ref> More recent examples include [[Sone Aluko]], who has caps for the [[England national under-19 football team|England under-19s]] and [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]],<ref>{{cite web|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/8068814.stm|title=Kelvin Etuhu opts for Nigeria |date=26 May 2009|access-date=27 July 2011|website=[[BBC Sport]]}}</ref> and [[Andrew Driver]], a former [[England national under-21 team|England under-21]] representative who is committed to the Scotland national team.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/more-scottish-football/craig-levein-convinces-hearts-winger-andrew-driver-to-commit-his-international-future-to-scotland-1.1003905|title=Craig Levein convinces Hearts winger Andrew Driver to commit his international future to Scotland|date=5 February 2010|access-date=27 July 2011|newspaper=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]}}</ref>

In March 2004, FIFA amended its wider policy on international eligibility. This was reported to be in response to a growing trend in some countries, such as [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]] and [[Togo national football team|Togo]], to naturalise players born and raised elsewhere who have no apparent ancestral links to their new country of citizenship.<ref name="Fifa rules on eligibility">{{cite web|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3523266.stm|title=Fifa rules on eligibility|date=18 March 2004|access-date=12 February 2015|website=[[BBC Sport]]}}</ref> An emergency FIFA committee ruling judged that players must be able to demonstrate a "clear connection" to a country that they had not been born in but wished to represent. This ruling explicitly stated that, in such scenarios, the player must have at least one parent or grandparent who was born in that country, or the player must have been resident in that country for at least two years.<ref name="Fifa rules on eligibility"/>

[[File:Togo-nationalmannschaft.jpg|thumb|right|220px|[[Togo national football team|Togo]]'s registration of [[Naturalization|naturalised]] players born and raised in Brazil reportedly influenced FIFA's decision to amend eligibility rules in 2004.]]
In November 2007, FIFA President [[Sepp Blatter]] told the BBC: "If we don't stop this farce, if we don't take care about the invaders from Brazil towards Europe, Asia and Africa then, in the 2014 or the 2018 World Cup, out of the 32 teams you will have 16 full of Brazilian players."<ref>{{cite news|title=Blatter wants EU to allow quotas|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7112767.stm|work=BBC Sport|access-date=29 December 2012|date=26 November 2007}}</ref>

The residency requirement for players lacking birth or ancestral connections with a specific country was extended from two to five years in May 2008 at FIFA's Congress as part of Blatter's efforts to preserve the integrity of competitions involving national teams.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://redsports.sg/2008/11/27/qiu-li-football/|title=National footballer Qiu Li gets tackled from behind by new FIFA law|date=27 November 2008|access-date=4 May 2012|publisher=redsports.sg}}</ref>

The relevant current FIFA statute, ''Article 7: Acquisition of a new nationality'', states:<ref name="statutes">{{cite web|title=FIFA Statutes (April 2016)|url=http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/generic/02/78/29/07/fifastatutsweben_neutral.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509164416/http://resources.fifa.com/mm/Document/AFFederation/Generic/02/78/29/07/FIFAStatutswebEN_Neutral.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 May 2016|publisher=[[FIFA.com]]|access-date=13 November 2017|date=April 2016}}</ref>

{{quotation|
Any player who refers to art. 5 par. 1{{NoteTag|This states : "Any person holding a permanent nationality that is not dependent on residence in a certain country is eligible to play for the representative teams of the association of that country"}} to assume a new nationality and who has not played international football [in a match (either in full or in part) in an official competition of any category or any type of football] shall be eligible to play for the new representative team only if he fulfils one of the following conditions:<br />
a) He was born on the territory of the relevant association;<br />
b) His biological mother or biological father was born on the territory of the relevant association;<br />
c) His grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of the relevant association;<br />
d) He has lived continuously for at least five years after reaching the age of 18 on the territory of the relevant association.
|source=FIFA.com}}

[[File:Diego Costa 2014.jpg|thumb|left|[[Diego Costa]] played two friendlies for [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in 2013, before switching allegiances to [[Spain national football team|Spain]]]]
Under the criteria generally, it is possible for a player to have a choice of representing several national teams. It is not uncommon for national team managers and scouts to attempt to persuade players to change their FIFA nationality; in June 2011, for example, Scotland manager [[Craig Levein]] confirmed that his colleagues had started a dialogue with [[United States men's national under-17 soccer team|United States under-17]] international [[Jack McBean]] in an attempt to persuade him to represent Scotland in the future.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/scotland/2011/06/12/craig-levein-wants-us-hitkid-jack-mcbean-to-play-for-scotland-86908-23196390/ |title=Craig Levein wants US hitkid Jack McBean to play for Scotland |newspaper=[[Sunday Mail (Scotland)|The Sunday Mail]] |date=12 June 2011 |access-date=4 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819022544/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/scotland/2011/06/12/craig-levein-wants-us-hitkid-jack-mcbean-to-play-for-scotland-86908-23196390/ |archive-date=19 August 2011 }}</ref> [[Gareth Bale]] was asked about a possibility to play for [[England national football team|England]], being of English descent through his grandmother, but ultimately opted to represent [[Wales national football team|Wales]], his country of birth.<ref name="england">{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/real-madrids-gareth-bale-rejected-8532079|title = Real Madrid's Gareth Bale: I rejected England to play for Wales|date = 28 January 2015}}</ref>

In June 2009, FIFA Congress passed a motion that removed the age limit for players who had already played for a country's national team at youth level to change national associations. This ruling features in Article 18 of the ''Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA Statutes''.<ref name=chassoc>{{cite news|title=Protect the game, protect the players, strengthen global football governance # Change of association
|url=https://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/bodies/news/newsid=1065926|publisher=FIFA|date=3 June 2009}}{{dead link|date=October 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Friendly match appearances do not commit a player to one country; [[Jermaine Jones]] played several friendlies for Germany but made his debut for the United States in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/09/jermaine-jones-in-u-s-lineup-against-poland/|title=Jermaine Jones Starts for U.S. Against Poland|date=9 October 2010|access-date= 15 August 2018|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> [[Thiago Motta]] had three caps for Brazil in matches deemed friendlies for Brazil (participation in the CONCACAF Gold Cup as a non-conference guest team) and went on to represent Italy for five years.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11860_6736994,00.html|title=Motta given green light: Fifa happy for Inter midfielder to make Azzurri bow|date=7 February 2011|access-date=31 July 2011|publisher=[[Sky Sports]]}}</ref> [[Diego Costa]] represented [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in two friendlies<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/match/105428/italy-vs-brazil/report|title=Italy 2–2 Brazil: Balotelli beauty ensures Swiss spectacular ends all-square|publisher=Goal.com|date=21 March 2013|access-date=29 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Webber|first1=Tom|title=Brazil 1–1 Russia|url=http://www.goal.com/brasilglobaltour/en/match/brazil-vs-russia/1436910/live-commentary|access-date=22 August 2014|work=Goal.com|date=25 March 2014}}</ref> before switching his allegiances to [[Spain national football team|Spain]] in 2013,<ref name=negocia>{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2013/09/25/seleccion/1380129055_899810.html|title=La FEF ya negocia la llamada de Diego Costa a la Selección|trans-title=FEF in negotiations to call Diego Costa to national team|newspaper=Diario AS|language=es|date=25 September 2013|access-date=26 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24734450|title=Diego Costa: Brazil-born striker commits to Spain|work=BBC Sport|date=29 October 2013|access-date=30 October 2013}}</ref> going on to represent the latter at the [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014]] and [[2018 FIFA World Cup]]s. [[Apostolos Giannou]] represented [[Greece national football team|Greece]] in a friendly in 2015,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/ethniki_elladas/pisw-stivarh-mprosta-akindynh-h-ethnikh-sto-0-0-me-thn-toyrkia.3775674.html |title=Πίσω στιβαρή, μπροστά ακίνδυνη η Εθνική στο 0–0 με την Τουρκία |access-date=25 March 2016 |archive-date=24 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624092942/http://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/ethniki_elladas/pisw-stivarh-mprosta-akindynh-h-ethnikh-sto-0-0-me-thn-toyrkia.3775674.html |url-status=live }}</ref> before switching his allegiances to [[Australia national football team|Australia]], making his debut for the latter in March 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2016/03/24/socceroos-score-seven-scintillating-win-over-tajikistan|title=Socceroos score seven in scintillating win over Tajikistan|publisher=[[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]]|first=Nick|last=Stoll|date=24 March 2016}}</ref> A FIFA Player's Status Committee is responsible for making such judgements.<ref name="statutes"/>

Under FIFA rules, eligibility by descent is strictly limited to biological descent; [[International adoption|adoption]] is not considered at all. By contrast, [[World Rugby]], the governing body for [[rugby union]], specifies that if a player has been legally adopted under the laws of the relevant country, descent is traced through the adoptive parent(s). This replacement also applies in cases where the player was not adopted, but one or both biological parents were themselves adopted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldrugby.org/handbook/regulations/reg-8/explanatory-guidelines |title=Regulation 8 Explanatory Guidelines |website=World Rugby |date=21 April 2016 |access-date=14 May 2018}}</ref>

In September 2020, the 70th edition of the [[FIFA Congress]] approved a rule change that now allows players to switch if they have played no more than three competitive matches at senior level prior to them turning 21 including no appearances in [[FIFA World Cup]] finals matches or continental finals (e.g. the [[UEFA European Championship]]). However, appearing in a tournament qualifier would not prohibit a change of eligibility.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54211943 |title=Fifa: Players can now switch countries if they have played no more than three competitive matches |website=BBC Sport |date=18 September 2020 |access-date=16 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Why can footballers change international teams? Eligibility rules & new updates explained {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/why-footballers-change-international-teams-eligibility-rules-new-/qzqdkqcx0x871eprs8yywafpz|access-date=2021-08-22|website=www.goal.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Dunbar|first=Graham|date=August 19, 2020|title=FIFA shapes new rule to help players switch national team|url=https://apnews.com/article/c1b936ae2ce24d9862298052b40480f9|access-date=August 22, 2021|website=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|agency=Associated Press|date=2020-08-19|title=FIFA shapes new rule to help players switch national team|url=https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2020/08/19/fifa-shapes-new-rule-to-help-players-switch-national-team/|access-date=2021-08-22|website=ProSoccerTalk {{!}} NBC Sports|language=en-US}}</ref> Furthermore, players who played for their home country but not at senior level, who were under 21 at the time and have since lived in a new country for five years or more can apply for the right to represent their new place of residence.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smithies |first1=Tom |title=BRUNO FORNAROLI THE SOCCEROO: HOW DID IT HAPPEN? |url=https://keepup.com.au/news/bruno-fornaroli-the-socceroo-how-did-it-happen |access-date=16 March 2022 |website=KeepUp}}</ref> This also applies to players that began living on the territory before the age of 10 for at least three years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Steve |title=FIFA Eligibility Rule Change Offers World Cup Hopes For 'One-Cap Wonders' |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveprice/2020/09/19/fifa-eligibility-rule-change-offers-world-cup-hopes-for-one-cap-wonders/ |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>

===Penalties for playing ineligible players===
[[File:George Mourad1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Syria national football team|Syria]] were expelled from the [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]] process by FIFA in 2011, for fielding [[George Mourad]] in a senior qualification match against [[Tajikistan national football team|Tajikistan]]]]
FIFA takes punitive action against teams that field ineligible players. In August 2011, FIFA expelled [[Syria national football team|Syria]] from the [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]] process following the appearance of [[George Mourad]] in a senior qualification match against [[Tajikistan national football team|Tajikistan]]. Mourad had made friendly match appearances for [[Sweden national football team|Sweden]] earlier in his career, but had not requested permission from FIFA to change national associations before playing for Syria.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports/2011/08/26/asian-soccer-struggles-with-off-field-controversy/|title=Asian soccer struggles with off-field controversy|date=26 August 2011|access-date=26 August 2011|publisher=[[Fox News]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509201544/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports/2011/08/26/asian-soccer-struggles-with-off-field-controversy/|archive-date=9 May 2012}}</ref>

At [[Men's Football at the 2015 Pacific Games|the men's football tournament]] at the [[2015 Pacific Games]], which also determines the 2016 Oceania Olympic Football qualifier, [[Deklan Wynne]], who was born in South Africa and raised in New Zealand from early childhood, played in the semi-final for New Zealand, who won the match 3–0. After the game, a protest was lodged by their opponents [[Vanuatu national football team|Vanuatu]], on the basis that Wynne was not an eligible player. As Wynne was 20 years old, it was impossible for him to have already lived in New Zealand for five years after the age of 18. This protest was upheld by the [[Oceania Football Confederation]], resulting in New Zealand being disqualified and Vanuatu taking their place in the final.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/jul/12/new-zealands-olympic-football-place-in-jeopardy|title=New Zealand thrown out of Olympic qualifying after fielding ineligible player|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=12 July 2015}}</ref>

During the [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2018 World Cup qualifiers]] [[Bolivia national football team|Bolivia]] fielded [[Paraguay]]an{{nbhyph}}born [[Nelson David Cabrera]] (who had also played for Paraguay) in two matches—against Peru on 1 September 2016 (the match was won 2–0 by Bolivia) and against Chile on 6 September 2016 (the match finished in a scoreless draw). Cabrera was subsequently found to be ineligible by FIFA, which resulted in the awarding of 3–0 wins for Bolivia's opponents, affecting the final standings in the table and contributing to Peru's qualification for the World Cup at the expense of Chile.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2016/m=11/news=bolivia-sanctioned-for-fielding-ineligible-player-2847422.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101173257/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2016/m=11/news=bolivia-sanctioned-for-fielding-ineligible-player-2847422.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 November 2016|title=Bolivia sanctioned for fielding ineligible player|last=FIFA.com|date=2016-11-01|newspaper=FIFA.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-07-10}}</ref>

==Nations that share a common nationality==
There are 25 FIFA member associations that share a common nationality with at least one other FIFA member association.<ref name="FIFA Transfer Commentary">{{cite web|title=FIFA Transfer Commentary|url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/51/56/07/transfer_commentary_06_en_1843.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229060404/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/51/56/07/transfer_commentary_06_en_1843.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 December 2009|publisher=FIFA.com|access-date=7 October 2013|date=December 2006}}</ref>

In these instances, under Article 6.1 of the Regulations Governing the Applications of Statutes, FIFA Statutes (nationality entitling players to represent more than one association), if a player was not born in the member associations' territory and does not have a parent or grandparent that was born in the territory, the player is able to represent another member association that shares the same common nationality after five years residency.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/why-footballers-change-international-teams-eligibility-rules-new-updates-explained/qzqdkqcx0x871eprs8yywafpz |title=Why can footballers change international teams? Eligibility rules & new updates explained |publisher=GOAL |year=2021 |access-date=7 February 2023}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan="2"|U.S. nationality
|{{fb|American Samoa|size=23px}}
|{{fb|Guam|size=23px}}
|{{fb|Puerto Rico|size=23px}}
|-
|{{fb|United States|size=23px}}
|{{fb|U.S. Virgin Islands|size=23px}}
|
|-
!rowspan="4"|British nationality<ref group=nb>The exception to this are the 'Four British Associations' of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Together the four associations have decided that they do not want to offer eligibility to represent their national team after two years residency to otherwise-ineligible British players. (see [[#2009 agreement|Home nations 2009 agreement]])</ref>
|{{fb|Anguilla|size=23px}}
|{{fb|Bermuda|size=23px}}
|{{fb|British Virgin Islands|size=23px}}
|-
|{{fb|Cayman Islands|size=23px}}
|{{fb|England|size=23px}}
|{{fb|Gibraltar|size=23px}}
|-
|{{fb|Montserrat|size=23px}}
|{{fb|Northern Ireland|size=23px}}
|{{fb|Scotland|size=23px}}
|-
|{{fb|Turks and Caicos Islands|size=23px}}
|{{fb|Wales|size=23px}}
|
|-
!Chinese nationality
|{{fb|China PR|size=23px}}
|{{fb|Hong Kong|size=23px}}
|{{fb|Macau|size=23px}}
|-
!Danish nationality
|{{fb|Denmark|size=23px}}
|{{fb|Faroe Islands|size=23px}}
|
|-
!French nationality
|{{fb|France|size=23px}}
|{{fb|Tahiti|size=23px}}
|{{fb|New Caledonia|size=23px}}
|-
!Dutch nationality
|{{fb|Aruba|size=23px}}
|{{fb|Curacao|size=23px}}
|{{fb|Netherlands|size=23px}}
|-
!NZ nationality
| {{fb|Cook Islands|size=23px}}
| {{fb| New Zealand| size=23px}}
|
|}

;Notes
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

==Home nations agreement==
There has been a series of additional agreements between national football associations of the [[United Kingdom]] ([[The Football Association]], the [[Scottish Football Association]], the [[Football Association of Wales]] and the [[Irish Football Association]]), the latest of which came in 2010 and was ratified by [[FIFA]].<ref name="sfa-2010-6-9">{{cite web|title=FIFA approve eligibility rule change|url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=2986&newsCategoryID=3&newsID=5968|publisher=ScottishFA.co.uk|access-date=19 February 2014|date=9 June 2010}}</ref>

In 1990, [[Nigel Spackman]] wanted to be called up by Scotland during his time at [[Rangers F.C.]] through his Scottish grandfather. However at the time, the four British Associations did not choose to accept players without parents pertaining to the nation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bruce wants to join the foreign legion|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/bruce-wants-to-join-the-foreign-legion-1.594386|work=Herald|access-date=7 October 2013|date=19 January 1990}}</ref> ''[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]'' reported that "until recently that would have been enough to give him qualification to play for Scotland. But under an agreement by the four home associations it is not enough any more."

===Foreign-born British nationals===
The agreement is often erroneously thought to be a response to cases similar to [[Maik Taylor]], who was born in Germany to an English father and chose to represent [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] at international level despite having no ties to the nation. Taylor was called up to Northern Ireland in 1998, five years after the 1993 (gentlemen's) agreement was in place.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/taylor-is-still-true-to-northern-ireland-cause-28454962.html |title=Taylor is still true to Northern Ireland cause |first=Stuart |last=McKinley |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=19 November 2008 |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref> The agreement was not applied when Taylor was called up by the IFA, possibly because in his case, neither the FA, SFA nor FAW was interested in capping him, unlike e.g. [[David Johnson (footballer, born 1976)|David Johnson]] (below) and so raised no objection. {{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

Taylor was eligible to play for Northern Ireland due to FIFA regulations allowing him to. The relevant statute of the time read: "Any player who is a naturalised citizen of a country in virtue of that country's laws shall be eligible to play for a national or representative team of that country." As there is no United Kingdom national team, he was eligible to choose a "representative team of the country" and opted for Northern Ireland. [[Eric Young (footballer, born 1960)|Eric Young]] (born in Singapore) and [[Pat Van Den Hauwe]] (born in Belgium) had both previously opted for [[Wales national football team|Wales]] under the same rules in 1985 and 1990 respectively, although both grew up in England;<ref>[https://www.nsno.co.uk/everton-news/2015/10/pat-van-den-hauwe-kendall-told-pick-wales/ Pat Van den Hauwe: Kendall told me to pick Wales] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211210052350/https://www.nsno.co.uk/everton-news/2015/10/pat-van-den-hauwe-kendall-told-pick-wales/ |date=10 December 2021 }}, Nil Satis Nisi Optimum, 23 October 2015</ref><ref>[https://inparallellines.wordpress.com/2017/11/26/eric-young-went-from-non-league-to-the-international-stage-via-brighton-and-crystal-palace/ Eric Young went from non league to the international stage via Brighton and Crystal Palace] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027175350/https://inparallellines.wordpress.com/2017/11/26/eric-young-went-from-non-league-to-the-international-stage-via-brighton-and-crystal-palace/ |date=27 October 2021 }}, In Parallel Lines, 26 November 2017</ref> Australian [[Tony Dorigo]] had been denied the chance to play for his birth nation by his club manager at [[Aston Villa]] due to the travelling distances and low standards of opposition, and successfully obtained citizenship in 1986 in order to play for England<ref>[https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/i-had-no-choice-former-leeds-defender-tony-dorigo-explains-why-he-had-to-play-for-england-instead-of-birth-nation-australia "I had no choice" – former Leeds defender Tony Dorigo explains why he had to play for England instead of birth-nation Australia], Ed McCambridge, FourFourTwo, 10 April 2023</ref> – but had no relevant British ancestry and could have represented any of the home nations. Players in the same situation today would only be allowed to represent the territory of their (grand)parent's birthplace as the clause has been amended to refer to the Football Association's "territory" and not "country". {{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

===1993 agreement===
The four associations met on 27 February 1993 at [[Hanbury Manor]] in Hertfordshire. The [[Scottish Football Association]] (SFA) released minutes from the meeting to the press.

{{quotation|
On the occasion of the meeting of the International Football Association Board on 27 February 1993 the four British associations ratified the following agreement, which came into force on 1 February 1993, on the criteria which should determine the eligibility of the player to be selected for one of the national teams of the British associations:

# His country of birth.
# The country of birth of his natural mother or father.
# The country of birth of his natural grandmother or grandfather.
# Where the player, both natural parents, and both natural grandparents are born outside the UK, but the player is the holder of a current British passport, he may play for the country of his choice."<ref name="scottish-no-go">{{cite web|title=Johnson devastated at Scottish no-go|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/johonson-devastated-at-scottish-nogo-742830.html|work=The Independent|access-date=7 October 2013 |date=4 November 1999}}</ref>|Scottish Football Association}}

David Johnson was a [[Jamaica national football team|Jamaica]]n international who had played four games for the Caribbean nation; his most recent game was a friendly against United States on 9 September 1999. He had previously played for the England B team and had been an unused substitute for the England under-21s. In late September 1999, the [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] forward was called up by Wales (and withdrew from the squad due to injury) and later Scotland. The Welsh and Scottish FAs believed he was eligible to play for them.<ref name="scottish-no-go"/> Johnson was a Jamaican immigrant who was raised by foster parents in England, and he believed he could choose which UK nation to represent; the (English) Football Association (FA) had advised the player's [[sports agent|agent]] that the international change of allegiance could go ahead.<ref name="here-to-paternity">{{cite web|title=Not quite from here to paternity|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/not-quite-from-here-to-paternity-1.265864|work=Herald|access-date=7 October 2013|date=25 October 1999}}</ref>

However, the SFA discovered that as he had an English mother, he was not able to represent any Home nation other than England as a result.<ref name="scottish-no-go"/> The SFA had chosen to abide by the agreement; unlike the Irish Football Association (IFA), who in addition to courting David Johnson had capped Germany-born Maik Taylor the previous year. Taylor was in the same situation as Johnson: he was born outside of the UK with one English parent. The Herald reported that "It is important to highlight, that under the agreement signed by the four British associations, the UK passport clause is only operative in the event that the player, his natural mother and father and his natural grandparents, are all born outside the United Kingdom".<ref name="here-to-paternity"/>

A Football Association of Wales (FAW) spokesman Cerri Stennett said that they were "extremely puzzled by this development" and they thought "he was eligible to play for any of the four home countries and that's why Lawrie McMenemy wanted him for Northern Ireland as well." Stennett stated that FIFA gave clearance to Johnson switch allegiance to Wales' national squad and "he was on the substitute's bench for a match."<ref>{{cite web|title=Ipswich attack 'charade' as Johnson is ruled to be English; Coach faces up to the reality that he will be unable to name Jamaican in his squad|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23768868.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611071134/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23768868.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 June 2014|publisher=The Herald|access-date=19 February 2014|date=5 November 1999}}</ref>

Under [[Lawrie McMenemy]]'s stewardship, Northern Ireland went through a phase of trying to call up players who had no links to a UK nation, Northern Ireland attempted to call up Germany-born Maik Taylor, Nigeria-born [[Dele Adebola]] and Jamaica-born David Johnson. McMenemy's successor [[Sammy McIlroy]] was not pleased with his predecessor's policy, upon being appointed as Northern Ireland manager he said: "It's farcical chasing players with absolutely no connection to our country."<ref>{{cite news |last=Clark |first=Bill |title=Mac the knife|work=Sunday Mirror |date=9 January 2000 |access-date=27 March 2014 |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FOOTBALL%3A+MAC+THE+KNIFE%3B+Sammy+slams+foreign+legion.-a060959897 }}</ref>

Former FA executive [[David Davies (football administrator)|David Davies]] confirmed that England had once considered calling up Italian [[Carlo Cudicini]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Carlo for England?|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/news/2003/38978 |work=thefa.com |access-date=14 November 2012|date=7 February 2003}}</ref> Brazilian [[Edu (footballer, born 1978)|Edu]] and Frenchmen [[Steed Malbranque]] and [[Louis Saha]] during [[Sven-Göran Eriksson]]'s time as England manager.

In February 2004, there was a lot of media speculation in Scotland about the possibility of Frenchman [[Didier Agathe]] and Italian [[Lorenzo Amoruso]] playing for Scotland. [[Berti Vogts]], the German head coach of Scotland, appeared to be in favour of fielding the players. Scotland's playing captain [[Christian Dailly]] felt differently, telling the ''[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]'' newspaper that "I don't care if they call in [[Zinedine Zidane]]. I would rather lose with a team of Scots than win with a team of foreigners. This is not a club side we're talking about it's SCOTLAND...I know the players will definitely be against it".<ref>{{cite news  |last=Jackson |first=Keith |title=I don't care if we bring in Zidane... I'd rather we lost with team full of Scots than win with a sporran legion; Dailly leads revolt over foreign stars|work=Daily Record |date=18 February 2004 |access-date=27 March 2014 |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3A+I+don%27t+care+if+we+bring+in+Zidane...+I%27d+rather+we+lost...-a0113364021 }}</ref>

Ahead of a meeting with the other home associations, SFA executive [[David Taylor (executive)|David Taylor]] urged caution ahead of calls to opt out of the agreement. He said "We have to watch it does not become a free-for-all with the home countries trying to get the best players available," "It goes to the heart of why we exist as a separate country and could force people into asking why we do not have a UK football team."<ref>{{cite news  |last=Broadfoot |first=Darryl |title=National side at mercy of FIFA proposals Eligibility issue to be decided by home nations pact |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/national-side-at-mercy-of-fifa-proposals-eligibility-issue-to-be-decided-by-home-nations-pact-1.93183 |publisher=Herald & Times Group |work=The Herald |access-date=9 October 2013|date=18 February 2004}}</ref> On 1 March 2004, the four British associations voted to retain the agreement.<ref>{{cite news |last=Broadfoot |first=Darryl |title=Identity crisis not much of a drama |publisher=Herald & Times Group |work=The Herald|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23561873.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105214134/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-23561873.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2013|date=2 March 2004|access-date=27 March 2014}}</ref>

===2006 agreement===
In January 2006, Northern Ireland manager [[Lawrie Sanchez]] had his hopes of bringing in players born outside Northern Ireland – but who held a British passport – dashed. Irish FA chiefs told Sanchez he could only select players who have a history with Northern Ireland. Sanchez spoke of his frustration with the rule: "I must stick by the British agreement which says that you shouldn't approach a player unless he has family ties with that particular country.

"It's frustrating but my job is to manage the Northern Ireland international team and theirs (the [[Irish FA]]) is to make policy.

"I must continue to work with the players I have and I'm very happy to do that.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/quick-on-the-draw-28253118.html|title=Quick on the draw
|first=Paul|last=Ferguson|newspaper=Belfast Telegraphy (Sunday Life)|date=22 January 2006}}</ref>

The wording of the agreement was adjusted and published by FIFA in December 2006:<ref name="FIFA Transfer Commentary"/>
{{quotation|
'''3. British associations'''

# There is a specific agreement, stipulating the conditions to play for a national team, for the four British associations<sup>134</sup>. Besides having British nationality, the player needs to fulfil at least one of the following conditions
#: a) he was born on the territory of the relevant association;
#: b) his biological mother or father was born on the territory of the relevant association;
#: c) his grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of the relevant association.
# If a player has a British passport, but no territorial relationship as provided for in conditions a-c above, he can choose for which of the British associations he wants to play<sup>135</sup>.
<small>134 England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.<br />135 e.g. a player who was born on the Cayman Islands and holds British nationality</small>}}

In October 2008, Spanish striker [[Nacho Novo]] said that he would apply for a British passport if it meant he'd become eligible to play for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]. The SFA stated that he would not be eligible as they would abide by the agreement.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7702704.stm |date = 31 October 2008|publisher=BBC |work=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=23 December 2013 |title=Deal ends Novo's Scotland hopes}}</ref>

===2009 agreement===
The agreement was completely revised in 2009 following a rewrite of the FIFA statutes in 2008. The loophole regarding British players born abroad and selecting a national team had been closed and then reopened. The revised ruling also removed the possibility of ineligibility due to a foreign-born adopted player having no parental or grand-parental links to a nation, as it is based on where the player is educated before the age of 18.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What's In A Nationailty Anyway? The Home Nations Agreement Explained |url=https://www.thefootballhistoryboys.com/2013/12/whats-in-nationailty-anyway-home.html |access-date=2023-04-11 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

====Removal of residency clause====
The home nations have agreed to remove a clause that enables players to gain eligibility for one of the eight national teams due to residency. The FIFA statutes state that "Associations sharing a common nationality may make an agreement under which item (d) of par. 1 of this article is deleted completely or amended to specify a longer time limit". The clause removed is:

{{quote|(d) He has lived continuously on the territory of the relevant Association for at least two years|sign=FIFA Statutes (April 2016 edition)<ref name="statutes"/>}}

If the home nations' associations had chosen not to remove or alter the 'd' clause and instead use the default FIFA statute clauses, players with a home nation nationality would be able to transfer to a club in another home nation and be eligible for that national team after a period of two years (providing they have not been capped or played in an ''official'' competition for a nation).

====The education clause====
In February 2009, the Scottish FA's Gordon Smith put forward a proposal that would allow players educated in the FA's territory who otherwise had no blood connections to the nation to become eligible to represent the nation. The rule was ratified by FIFA in October 2009.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shuttleworth|first=Peter|title=Shawcross now eligible for Wales|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8302195.stm|publisher=BBC|access-date=14 November 2012|date=13 October 2009}}</ref>

In June 2010, FIFA approved a minor rewording of the criteria.<ref name="sfa-2010-6-9"/> The introduction of the new clause allows a player to gain eligibility for a British national team if he receives five years of education in the territory of the relevant association:

{{quote|d) He has engaged in a minimum of five years education under the age of 18 within the territory of the relevant association.|Home nations agreement}}

As a direct result of the clause change, England-born [[Andrew Driver]] became eligible to play for the Scotland national team in June 2012. Driver was initially only eligible to represent England's national team despite living in Scotland since the age of 11.<ref>{{cite news|title=Andrew Driver receives Scotland eligibility boost|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/8731562.stm|work=BBC Sport|access-date=1 February 2012}}</ref> Despite speculation, Driver was never called-up for Scotland. [[Andy Dorman]], who had previously been ineligible for Wales despite living in [[Hawarden]] for most of life became eligible to represent Wales. He was called up in November 2009 and made his debut for Wales on 23 May 2010 against Montenegro at the [[Stadion kraj Bistrice]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wales/8678876.stm |title=Croatia 2–0 Wales |date=23 May 2010 |access-date=23 May 2010 |work=[[BBC Sport]]}}</ref>

The criteria for eligibility to represent a home nation is:

{{quotation|
# A Player who, under the terms of art. 5, is eligible to represent more than one Association on account of his nationality, may play in an international match for one of these Associations only if, in addition to having the relevant nationality, he fulfils at least one of the following conditions:
#: a) He was born on the territory of the relevant Association;
#: b) His biological mother or biological father was born on the territory of the relevant Association;
#: c) One of his biological grandparents was born on the territory of the relevant Association;
#: d) He has engaged in a minimum of five years education under the age of 18 within the territory of the relevant association.|Home nations agreement}}

In July 2012, the Football Association of Wales confirmed that [[Swansea City F.C.]]'s Spanish defender [[Àngel Rangel]] is not eligible to represent Wales due to the agreement.<ref>{{cite news|title=Swansea City defender Angel Rangel ineligible for Wales|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18833190|work=BBC Sport|access-date=14 November 2012|date=13 July 2012}}</ref>

==Northern Ireland==
Players born in [[Northern Ireland]]  are [[British citizens]] at birth but are also entitled to have Irish Nationality   which entitles them to be selected for the representative teams of the [[Irish Football Association]] (IFA - Northern Ireland) as well as of the [[Football Association of Ireland]] (FAI - Republic of Ireland). In contrast, players born in the [[Republic of Ireland]] do not have such dual nationality from birth and, as a consequence, are confined to playing for the teams of the FAI and cannot play for Northern Ireland unless they have a parent or grandparent who was born there. {{citation needed|date=September 2014}}

Players otherwise eligible for Northern Ireland do not need a UK passport if they have an Irish passport.<ref name="ie20060620" /> A 2006 FIFA decision to require a UK passport was reversed after a month of IFA protests, with intervention from [[Peter Hain]], the [[Northern Ireland Secretary]], and [[Dermot Ahern]], the Republic's [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Ireland)|Minister for Foreign Affairs]].<ref name="ii26386503">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/red-card-for-fifa-on-north-players-passports-26386503.html|title=Red card for FIFA on North players' passports -|last=McDermott|first=Gerry|date=26 May 2006|work=[[Irish Independent]]|access-date=22 April 2016}}</ref><ref name="ie20060620">{{cite news|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2006/0620/sport/fifa-scraps-aposstupidapos-north-passports-rule-6404.html|title=FIFA scraps 'stupid' North passports rule |last=O'Hare|first=Paul|date=20 June 2006|work=[[Irish Examiner]]|access-date=22 April 2016}}</ref>

{{quotebox|''3. REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE STATUS AND TRANSFER OF PLAYERS''

In this connection, two points were raised from the national associations of Belgium and Northern Ireland: (…)

''b) Irish Football Association (Northern Ireland)''

The Committee considered this association's statement that almost any player can obtain a Republic of Ireland passport in order to secure eligibility to play for this country.

The Committee discussed this very serious matter at length and had to come to the unfortunate conclusion that FIFA cannot interfere with the decisions taken by any country in the question of granting passports.

The only way that the national associations could prevent their nationals from being systematically granted passports by another country to enable them to play for its national teams would be to field them in an official match for one of their national representative teams, which would bind them to this particular association"
|source= FIFA Players Status Committee, 17 May 1994<ref name="cas">{{cite web|title=CAS 2010/A/2071 IFA v/ FAI, Kearns & FIFA|url=https://www.law.yale.edu/system/files/documents/pdf/Intellectual_Life/10_e._CAS_Irish_case.pdf |date=2010 |author=Court of Arbitration for Sport |author-link=Court of Arbitration for Sport |publisher=[[Yale Law School]] |access-date=22 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601063940/https://www.law.yale.edu/system/files/documents/pdf/Intellectual_Life/10_e._CAS_Irish_case.pdf |archive-date=1 June 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
[[File:Daniel Kearns 30-05-2009 1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Daniel Kearns (footballer)|Daniel Kearns]], who originally represented [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] at youth international level, chose to represent the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]], despite the fact he had not lived in the Republic of Ireland, and had no parents or grandparents from the Republic of Ireland, causing the [[Irish Football Association]] (IFA) to contest his decision.<ref name="cas"/>]]
In 2009, [[Daniel Kearns (footballer)|Daniel Kearns]], who had represented Northern Ireland at youth level, declared for the Republic of Ireland. He was born in Belfast and his parents and grandparents were all from Northern Ireland. The IFA complained to FIFA that Kearns should be ineligible to represent the Republic of Ireland. FIFA responded: "As the FIFA Legal Committee understands it, the situation in Northern Ireland is such that all Northern Irish footballers could opt to play for your association teams, given that they have a birthright to an Irish passport. Evidently, the same is not applicable to the footballers of the Republic of Ireland, who do not have such a claim to a UK passport. This means that the [IFA] is exposed to a one-way situation, where players can choose to play for your association teams but the vice versa is not possible. This circumstance is rather unique and the FIFA Statutes and regulations do not provide for a solution".<ref name="cas"/>

In 2007, the FIFA Legal Committee invited the FAI voluntarily to confine itself to selecting for its association teams Northern Irish players who meet one of the following requirements: a) the player was born in the Republic of Ireland, b) his biological mother or father was born in the Republic of Ireland, c) his grandmother or grandfather was born in the Republic of Ireland, or d) he has lived continuously, for at least two years, in the Republic of Ireland.

FIFA also proposed an agreement between the Irish FA and the Football Association of Ireland which read:<ref name="cas"/>
:(…) every player born on the territory of Northern Ireland, holding the UK nationality and being entitled to a passport of the Republic of Ireland or born on the territory of the Republic of Ireland and holding the Irish nationality could either play for the [FAI] or the [IFA], under the condition that all other relevant prerequisites pertaining to player's eligibility for a specific Association team are fulfilled

Whereas the FAI favoured the proposal, the IFA did not. Following the IFA's rejection, FIFA told the IFA that they had "concluded to adhere to the status quo".<ref name="cas"/>

In 2010, the IFA challenged the FAI in the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] (CAS).<ref name="cas"/> CAS concluded that the Irish FA "cannot reasonably claim that Mr Kearns' situation is to be equated with shared nationality as provided under Article 16 or that he requests a change of association from a starting point of a shared nationality. His situation, with respect to his Irish nationality, is not governed by Article 16, but by the general principle set forth by Article 15 par. 1 of the said Regulations. No further connection (as described by Article 16) has to exist between Mr Kearns and the Republic of Ireland to make him eligible to play for the FAI's representative team."<ref name="cas"/>

==See also==
* [[Cap-tied]]
* [[Grandfather rule]]
* [[Laws of the Game (association football)]]
* [[List of association footballers who have been capped for two senior national teams]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Notes==
{{NoteFoot}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080803173844/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/double-caps.html List of players appearing for more than one country; Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]

[[Category:Laws of association football]]
[[Category:Association football terminology]]
[[Category:Sport and nationality]]
[[Category:FIFA]]