MEP raises FIFA proposal in European Parliament at Strasbourg
Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has taken the row over FIFA’s proposal to allow players born in Northern Ireland the opportunity to play for the Republic of Ireland onto the international stage this evening as he told fellow Members of the European Parliament in a debate in Strasbourg that if FIFA’s proposal went ahead it would be a kick in the teeth for Northern Irish football.
Speaking to MEPs Mr Nicholson said,
“I would like to bring to the attention of the House a proposal by FIFA, the global governing body for football, to allow players born in Northern Ireland the opportunity to represent the Republic of Ireland at international level.
“The Northern Ireland football team has a proud history going back many decades and over the years has produced many great footballers and defeated many great teams.
“Northern Ireland has had many difficulties over the past 35 years and during those dark days soccer was able to bring people together in our community. So I say very clearly to FIFA that they are wrong to go down this road. At a time when I believed that society in Northern Ireland was becoming normal and moving on from the past, this has come as a major shock and may even harm efforts to move society forward.”