DeeTee
20 Dec 2004, 05:59 PM
The SFA themselves were asked about the McGeady situation. This is what they said:
'It is indeed true that Celtic FC did not allow their players to
participate in schools football.
It is also true that this policy did prevent any of their young players
from being selected for the schools international squads through the
normal process.
However, in recent years (since 2001) when the rules governing
eligibility for schoolboy selection changed from being at school in the
country to birth eligibility, the Schools' FA invited all Scottish clubs
to nominate players who although they did not play for their schools,
had the appropriate birth qualifications to play for Scotland.
Celtic FC continued not to nominate any of their players (the only
Scottish club to do so). This included Aiden McGeady who had already
represented the Schools' FA at an event at the World Cup Finals in Paris
when he was still at Primary school.
The situation has recently changed in that the under 15 and under 16
age groups have now become the responsibility of the SFA under the new
youth review and only time will tell whether this will prevent such
happenings in the future.'
'It is indeed true that Celtic FC did not allow their players to
participate in schools football.
It is also true that this policy did prevent any of their young players
from being selected for the schools international squads through the
normal process.
However, in recent years (since 2001) when the rules governing
eligibility for schoolboy selection changed from being at school in the
country to birth eligibility, the Schools' FA invited all Scottish clubs
to nominate players who although they did not play for their schools,
had the appropriate birth qualifications to play for Scotland.
Celtic FC continued not to nominate any of their players (the only
Scottish club to do so). This included Aiden McGeady who had already
represented the Schools' FA at an event at the World Cup Finals in Paris
when he was still at Primary school.
The situation has recently changed in that the under 15 and under 16
age groups have now become the responsibility of the SFA under the new
youth review and only time will tell whether this will prevent such
happenings in the future.'