North born players free to play for Republic

All players born in Northern Ireland are free to play for the Republic of Ireland football team after the FAI won a landmark case in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland on Friday.

The governing body of football in the North of Ireland, the Irish Football Association (IFA) brought the test case of Daniel Kearns to the headquarters of the CAS in Lausanne in an effort to prevent the growing number of players born north of the border who had declared for the Republic.

Kearns was called up to the Republic of Ireland under-19 squad earlier this year having previously played for Northern Ireland at under-17 level and became the latest in a long line of players, including Darron Gibson, Shane Duffy and Marc Wilson, to declare for the Republic having lined out for Northern Ireland at under-age level.

The IFA had argued that no player without family links to the Republic of Ireland should be allowed to switch allegiance despite the fact that, under the Good Friday Agreement, Irish passports can be held by anyone born on either side of the border.

The CAS dismissed their appeal, however and now Kearns and others in a similar situation will be free to follow his example, providing they haven’t played for Northern Ireland in a senior international fixture.

A statement released by the CAS yesterday read, “The CAS panel dismissed the appeal and confirmed the decision issued by the single judge of the FIFA players’ status committee, which recognised that Daniel Kearns was eligible to play for the national team of the FAI.”

CEO of the FAI, John Delaney was delighted with the outcome of the case, saying, "Today's landmark decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirms the FIFA and FAI position on player eligibility. The ruling upholds the right of individual choice on this matter for players born north of the border.

“I would like to thank the many people from all parts of the island who were strongly supportive during this process, and in particular, recognise the determination of Daniel Kearns and his family to uphold his right as an Irish citizen to play for his country.”