World Cup nationality controversy
by Stuart Watson
31 May 2006
January dawns - the draw is in - cue a transfer market frenzy. Reference not to the FA Cup and the domestic scene however, but to the World Cup and international football.
Since the draw for Germany 2006 in Leipzig last year, a surge of applications for player nationality change have landed on FIFA’s desk. With them come a host of knock-on effects for the international game…
The Change
The re-written and re-numbered Article 15, implemented on 1st January 2004, outlines that a player must now apply to FIFA for nationality change before the age of 24. A year-long window was left open throughout 2004 for players over that age to also apply for nationality change so long as they had not represented the nation they wished to switch from at senior level.
Growing gap between Europe and Africa
Many African footballers emigrate early in their careers to test their ability in the superior standard and higher paid surroundings of the European leagues. The result – the likes of France gain world beaters in the form of Algerian born Zinedine Zidane and Senegalese-born Patrick Vieira. There is no dispute that, having lived in a nation for the majority of their lives, these players should not qualify to represent their adopted homeland. However, the new ruling is only likely to see the African nations miss on even more talent.
Having to pledge national allegiance at an early age means that many African footballers, fuelled by the heady ambition and confidence of youth, will inevitably commit to the international heavyweights. The reality is that the majority of these will drop off into international obscurity, obtaining just a handful of caps, if indeed any at all. Subsequently, the African nations will be powerless to see such unused players, frustratingly perfect for their side and once eligible to represent them, unavailable and rotting on the international scrap heap.
Player detachment
There are some cases where the validity of a player’s connection to their adopted nation can be called into question. For example, not content with being able to call upon the player resources of Trinidad AND Tobago, manager Leo Beenhakker has resorted to scouring the globe for players who, at the kindest description, ‘loosely’ fulfill the criteria to switch nationality to that of his side.
Staffordshire-born midfielder Chris Birchall became the first white man to play for the country in six decades last year after research revealed his grandmother had been born there. Birchall admitted that the thought of representing Trinidad and Tobago had never crossed his mind but, unable to compete with Lampard, Beckham and co. for an international starting berth, quickly jumped on the Caribbean bandwagon. Birchall went on to score the important equaliser against Bahrain and seal the nation’s first ever World Cup place.
Since the draw, the Soca Warriors have applied for English trio, Bobby Zamora, J Lloyd Samuel and Fulham goalkeeper Anthony Warner. 5000 miles would separate such T&T players from the place they were born and have always lived in, and the side they may end up playing for. Can these men truly ‘represent’ such nations?
Power to the rich nations
The new ruling has led to rich nations, such as Tunisia and Qatar, offering financial incentives for footballers to take on their passport. Many of these players have never set foot in these countries and have no ethnic ties to them whatsoever. With the trend of player transfers crossing over into international football it is possible to ask, was the World Club Championship lost by Liverpool last December or in fact taking place in Germany this June?
Brothers in arms
In another ludicrous case, two brothers may end up competing against each other at this summer’s World Cup. Salamon Kalou is looking likely to win his battle for Dutch nationality, whilst his older brother Boncventure will continue to captain the Ivory Coast. Both are Ivorian born, and have both played primarily in the Dutch league throughout their footballoing careers. Yet when Holland play the Elephants on the 16th of June the pair will become adversaries.
Diminishing National Pride
In addition to the growing trend in player shopping, FIFA President Sepp Blatter has called for the end of national anthems before each game, whilst foreign managers represent 15 of the 32 sides making up the World Cup.
Any of this sound familiar? Money motivated players, loyalty as long as a goldfish’s memory, and an all too predictable handful of elite sides contesting every competition... Disgruntled football fans beware; the international game may not offer the raw battle of national spirit and refreshing respite from the Premiership you thought it would.