Should Only English People Play For England?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/10365464/Jack-Wilshere-fuels-debate-over-foreign-players-after-insisting-Adnan-Januzaj-should-not-represent-England.html

/// “If you live in England for five years it doesn’t make you English,’’ the Arsenal midfielder said. ///

[LazyGun]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1281478.html

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Sport/Question1281946.html

[Zeuhl]

I support the Steward with the Mars Bar - I hope he was English, no one seemed to check him out

[Gromit]

Yes they should. Especially as those are the rules.

The definition of English/British is the problem.

You have in the past disputed that black football players properly British (they are). The Daily Mail calls Olympic hero Mo Farah a 'plastic Brit', he isn't.

The laws on who is elligible to play for England (in whatever sport) is set by international bodies that are independent. We should just obey the rules.

We should ignore dense footballers who think they know better than FIFA, the ICC the IAAF.

[Gromit]

If Wilshire is worried about his Internation career with England, he should cut out the boozing and fags.

[FredPuli43]

Five years residence alone doesn't seem enough, whatever FIFA says, unless the player is also required to become a citizen of the UK. At least then he has shown some serious commitment. The other examples cited are more clear-cut and genuine. A notable example of recent years is Owen Hargreaves. Born in Canada, he left and spent 7 years with Bayern Munich, thus resident in Germany, but he has one Welsh and one English parent. He chose England. Don't think anyone could complain about that; he saw himself as British and chose one of the two parental countries

[sandyRoe]

No. It would set a bad precedent. Next thing they'd want want runners and cricketers to have been born here too

[anotheoldgit]

I think we should revert back top the original concept of representation.

That is for all the players playing for Manchester United or City for example to be all lads who live in Manchester Etc, one could then could truly support your local team.

But it could never happen now because the game of soccer along with most sports is governed by money, and not pride your Town, City or Country is better than the others.

[sp1814]

AOG

You would need to define 'English'.

According to our recent discussion on the subject, wouldn't all black and Asian players be excluded?

Are they to be considered 'English' with regards to sporting teams.?

[Zeuhl]

/That is for all the players playing for Manchester United or City for example to be all lads who live in Manchester Etc/

so aog, you would argue that any players 'WHO LIVE' in England can play for England?

well that certainly opens up Roy Hodgson's options

[sp1814]

Perhaps it should be defined by your residency status? If you were born, say, in Spain, and still have a Spanish passport - then you can't play for England, because you could also play for Spain.

If however, you've given up your Spanish passport, and have successfully applied for a British one - then you should be able to play for whichever country in Britain you reside.

[Zeuhl]

/wouldn't all black and Asian players be excluded?/

SP don't worry

according to aog's 14.18 post, as long as they live in England they'll be fine whatever their ethnicity or indeed nationality!

[Gromit]

// I think we should revert back top the original concept of representation.

That is for all the players playing for Manchester United or City for example to be all lads who live in Manchester Etc, one could then could truly support your local team. //

That never happened. Player registration started when the game went professional in 1885 when the football league was set up. Transfers between teams started soon after that. Manchester United didn't come into being until 1902, by which times players moved freely, many Scots moving to the big English teams for example.

[andrew1707]

I've lived in England for more years than I care to remember. Only now do I find out that I could play for England...wow.

Come on then Strachan, if you don't call soon then I will be on the phone to that Hodgson fella. I could be what England have been waiting for.

[Zeuhl]

^
Indeed

It's dubious that any sports people play to prove their /Town, City or Country is better than the others./

In my experience it is all about proving that the Team or Club is the best; the players' sense of connection to those other concepts varies from moderate to non existent

[FredPuli43]

AOG, you must be very old if first division sides consisted only or even substantially of local talent. :-) All of them had substantial non-local intake. The reason was, of course, money. Good teams were successful and put the gate receipts up in consequence. Therefore they 'imported' players.

Only a few good players stayed with their home town club; and then only if it was good enough. Examples: Tommy Lawton was born and brought up near Bolton but didn't play for them. Stanley Matthews did start with a local team, Stoke, but then spent 14 seasons with Blackpool. Dixie Dean was born in Birkenhead and played his career with Everton. Since Everton were a top side, he had no reason to leave (strictly Tranmere was his home side, but we'll excuse him that !)

[Gromit]

Of Newton Heath's (Manchester United's former name) first seven captain's (1883 - 1897), only one was English.

[redman41]

You should only be eligible to play for your Country if you were born there.
Obscure reasons should not count !!

[FredPuli43]

No wonder Cliff Richard never wanted to play for England ! Wasn't born here. So do we include those people who were born in countries then ruled by Britain (which would include Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland)? Or do we think more narrowly and say only people born in England qualify for England ?