Foreigners for England

[Hoop Blah]

I'm of the same opinion on football as I am cricket. Ideally, for me, someone should be eligible to play for the country of their birth, or that of their parents, and no further back. That said, the rules iz the rules, and if we can 'assimilate' the likes of Arteta or Di Canio or Cudicini, and they want to play for England, and it would be of benefit to the national team, then we should go ahead and do it.

What defines your parents nationality though? That's the only thing that I can see in favour of the grandparent rule.

I'd still rather the rules were tightened up as it seems a bit farscial at times, but even if the rules allow it I'd rather we didn't go down that route. I feel the same with the cricket and other sports too, it's not just football. The whole point is that it's the best a country can produce vs the best another country can produce, not just the best they can attract to live there for a few years.

[papereyes]

Being born on Jersey means you can also play for Gibralter so I guess that makes 14 countries.

At this moment, Gibraltar isn't a member of FIFA or UEFA. It's not really a country, either.

So.

No.

[soggy biscuit]

Being born on Jersey means you can also play for Gibralter so I guess that makes 14 countries.

At this moment, Gibraltar isn't a member of FIFA or UEFA.

I am aware of that but they do take part in all the non FIFA affiliated tournaments (island games etc). So I guess playing for them doesn't dictate at all which other nation you play for as they are unrecognised so to speak,

If you put parents or grandparents down as islands that double up then you could get sh*t loads of countries. What about that baby that was recently born on a plane over Canadian airspace and was given citizenship. You can throw that in to.

[papereyes]

Phil Stant played for the Falkland Islands.

[Hoop Blah]

English born and bred only?

Not sure that's alwasys been the case, but generally I'd much rather see the England team made up of 'genuine' Englishmen than assimilated foreigners whose only connection is that a club over here has employed them for long enough to be eligible.

John Barnes? Terry Butcher? Le Tiss? Le Saux?

Exactly, that was my point. We've not, as the OP said, only played English born and bred over the years.

...you can add Leroy Lita to that list too if you like.

[Ferris]

The FA have confirmed that Arteta can't play for England cos he represented Spain at yoof level

[soggy biscuit]

ALOL @ the British media not even doing their background work on this as usual.

FIFA rule states that if he reprisented Spain at under 16's and under 17s then he cannot play for another country unless he has dual nationality.

[gazzer, loyal royal]

The FA have confirmed that Arteta can't play for England cos he represented Spain at yoof level

it's because he didn't have a British passport at the time of playing for the Spanish youth teams

[soggy biscuit]

ALOL @ the Daily Mail running with a story about this 'hidden rule' rather than just admitting they didn't even bother reading the FIFA guidelines before claiming that Arteta could play for England.