FAI-IFA dispute:Fifa's attempt to find what their spokesman described as "an amicable solution" to the dispute between Ireland's two football associations appeared to have failed yesterday as the officials at the Belfast-based Irish Football Association expressed surprise and anger over the federation's suggestion that players born anywhere on the island be allowed to choose which national team they played for.
IFA chief executive Howard Wells said he was "staggered" by the suggestion which is widely seen as essentially benefiting the Football Association of Ireland due to the expectation few players from south of the Border would want to defect to the North.
Wells said the proposal "flies in the face of what was said to us just a few weeks ago in Zurich".
An official statement issued by the association also alleged that the Fifa line now is "at variance" with what IFA officials were told while meeting with representatives of the game's international governing body.
"I'm extremely surprised about this, in fact I'm staggered," said Wells. "All we are asking is for Fifa to implement their own rules consistently to all members of their organisation. This proposal seems to be totally inconsistent with Fifa's own rules and we will be seeking clarification."
In its communication with the two associations, Fifa had invited responses from both parties but the IFA now look set to seek legal advice. The repeated suggestion yesterday that their officials had been misled in Zurich about the ruling that would be given illustrates the level of confidence north of the Border that they would emerge as winners from the dispute.
Instead it looks certain to rumble on into next year now although the fact Fifa have again declined to make any attempt to prevent players from the north opting to play for the Republic will provide considerable reassurance to the FAI regarding the eventual outcome.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland under-21 manager Roy Millar has named Belfast-born Michael O'Connor in his squad for European Championship qualifiers against Luxembourg and Moldova. The Crewe striker has represented the Republic in a number of friendly games.
