Unionist outcry as sports court rules against IFA
UNIONISTS reacted angrily after an international sports court ruled that footballers born in Northern Ireland could play for the Republic.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, rejected the Irish Football Association's attempt to prevent 19-year-old player Daniel Kearns defecting.
He was used as a test case when he became the latest player to switch allegiance after playing at youth level for Northern Ireland.
He follows Manchester United's Darron Gibson, Marc Wilson of Portsmouth and Everton's Shane Duffy, who all opted to play for the Republic.
Kearns did not qualify under the rules of having a parent or grandparent from the Republic – his case was based on the Belfast Agreement which allows people born in Northern Ireland to claim British or Irish nationality.
Sports minister Nelson McCausland described the ruling as "a poor result for local football" and added: "I support the principle of sports bodies doing everything possible to encourage young talented players from Northern Ireland to go on to represent their country at international level, but I want to read the court's ruling in full before commenting further."
Irish Football Association (IFA) president Raymond Kennedy said he was dismayed at the decision and added: "But we will continue to develop our very successful and wide range of Football for All and community programmes in the areas of grassroots, domestic and international football to ensure that anyone available to play for Northern Ireland will want to do.
"The Irish FA wished Kearns the best of luck for his future career but will wait to see the court's full judgment before making any further comment."
Ulster Unionist MLA David McNarry last night called on the IFA to "fight tooth and nail" yesterday's judgment .
"The IFA should use the European Courts, appeal to Westminster, make these young players sign a document that they will stick by the IFA that is pouring money and resources into their development – maybe even renegotiate the Belfast Agreement that created this farce," said Mr McNarry."
Sinn Fein chairman of the DCAL committee Barry McElduff said: "It will come as no surprise that the CAS has thrown out this case.
"It was a blatant attempt to deny Irish citizens in the six counties their full rights as Irish passport holders and was doomed to failure from the start."
SDLP MLA Thomas Burns said: "We have consistently argued that footballers should have the right to choose which team to play for, whether that is Northern Ireland or the Republic. It is only right that any footballer is given the freedom to make up their own mind on which country they wish to represent."
But former Belfast lord mayor Jim Rodgers (UUP) – a member of the Glentoran board and of Sport NI – said: "If someone doesn't want to play for you, there isn't much you can do about it. But these young people accept the investment that's poured into their careers at an early stage and should stay with the sporting bodies who helped develop them with time and money."
Kearns, who was not available for comment last night, is currently without a club.
The full CAS ruling is due to be released within the next few days.
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Monday 13 February 2012
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