Eligibility and Cap-Tying

[appoo]

Thought it might be value added to post this here since it seems to be a topic that crops up from time to time.

Here's is the exact wording of the rule

If a Player has more than one nationality, or if a Player acquires a new
nationality, or if the Player is eligible to play for several Association
teams due to his nationality, the following exceptions apply:

(a) Up to his 21st birthday, a player may only once request changing
the Association for which he is eligible to play international
matches. A Player may exercise this right to change Associations
only if he has not played at “A" international level for his
current Association and if at the time of his first full or
partial appearance in an international match in an official competition
of any other category, he already had such nationalities.
Changing Associations is not permitted during the preliminary
competition of a FIFA competition, continental championship
or Olympic Tournaments if a player has already been
fielded in a match of one of these competitions.

(b) Any Player who has already acquired eligibility to play for one
Association but has another nationality imposed upon him by
a government authority, is also entitled to change associations.
This provision is not subject to any age limits.

http://www.fifa.com/en/regulations/regulation/0,3527,1,00.html

here's one more addendum to that same rule

A player who, under the terms of Art. 15 of the Regulations Governing
the Application of the FIFA Statutes (see above), is eligible to represent more
than one Association on account of his nationality, may play in an
international match for one of these Associations only if, in addition to
having the relevant nationality, he fulfi ls at least one of the following
conditions:
a) he was born on the territory of the relevant Association;
b) his biological mother or biological father was born on the territory
of the relevant Association;
c) his grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of the
relevant Association;
d) he has lived on the territory of the relevant Association for at least
two years without interruption.

that addendum can be found under the "Regulations for the Status and Transfer of Players" PDF at fifa.com

[texgator]

Someone should sticky this thread, it would be easy to refer others to it later.

[Bluecat82]

If a Player has more than one nationality, or if a Player acquires a new
nationality, or if the Player is eligible to play for several Association
teams due to his nationality, the following exceptions apply:

(a) Up to his 21st birthday, a player may only once request changing
the Association for which he is eligible to play international
matches. A Player may exercise this right to change Associations
only if he has not played at “A" international level for his
current Association and if at the time of his first full or
partial appearance in an international match in an official competition
of any other category, he already had such nationalities.
Changing Associations is not permitted during the preliminary
competition of a FIFA competition, continental championship
or Olympic Tournaments if a player has already been
fielded in a match of one of these competitions.


So...if I read this correctly...once a player is capped for an "A" level international (re: FIFA sponsored event such as WCQ or *cough* Gold Cup *cough*), he is done, no matter what the player's age is, correct?

Or not?

[appoo]

So...if I read this correctly...once a player is capped for an "A" level international (re: FIFA sponsored event such as WCQ or *cough* Gold Cup *cough*), he is done, no matter what the player's age is, correct?

Or not?

my understanding is that an "A" match also includes those 10 friendly dates that FIFA sets aside for the year.

but yes, I read it the same way you do

[onefineesq]

So...if I read this correctly...once a player is capped for an "A" level international (re: FIFA sponsored event such as WCQ or *cough* Gold Cup *cough*), he is done, no matter what the player's age is, correct?

Or not? That's what it looks like to me.

[Clint Eastwood]

So...if I read this correctly...once a player is capped for an "A" level international (re: FIFA sponsored event such as WCQ or *cough* Gold Cup *cough*), he is done, no matter what the player's age is, correct?

Or not?


Is that a veiled *cough* Philipakos *cough* reference?

Thanks for this thread. It'll be very helpful every time this topic arises on these boards.

[appoo]

International football matches recognised by FIFA are those between two Members of FIFA and for which each Member fields a representative team.


An international “A” match is a match arranged between two Members of FIFA and for which both Members field their first representative team.


3 The terms used to define a match are those that give an appropriate political and geographical description of the countries or territories of the Members whose teams are involved in the match and over which countries or territories the Members have sole control and jurisdiction.


If a Member allows one of its Leagues to choose a team that bears the name of its country, the match shall be considered an international match as described in par. 1 of this article.
At first I thought I knew what an "A" match was. Now I have no idea what an "A" match ISN'T

[appoo]

"Every international “A” match, including friendly matches and those
played in tournaments or in games including football, shall be notified
to the FIFA general secretariat by the Members organising them
within 14 days of their being arranged. In any case, such notification
shall reach FIFA at least 48 hours before the planned date of the
match."

I'm confused :(

[Sagy]

From memory, I can't find a reference:(.

An "A" is a game in which both federations report to FIFA that they are planning to field their "top" team. If either federation reports otherwise it is not an "A" game. WC, Confederation championships (including qualifiers) are "A" games as well. Other games are international, but not "A" level.

Examples:
US-England in May will be an "A" game (in all likelihood) regardless of the players that will be on the teams.
If the US were to field the U-23 team, it will not be an "A" level game (it will be just an international game).
Like wise the "MLS US stars" vs. England will be an international, but not an "A" level (unless the US reports that it as a "first" team game).
An US vs. "MLS foreign stars" is not an international game as far as FIFA is concerned.

[Sachin]

The rule of thumb (rule of wrist?) for "A" matches meant any FIFA or Confederation organized championship (World Cup, European Championships, Copa America, etc) or qualifying matches for those same events.

Friendlies do *not* count as "A" matches. Jeff Cunningham played in several friendlies for Jamaica before being cap-tied to the US.

Sachin

[appoo]

The rule of thumb (rule of wrist?) for "A" matches meant any FIFA or Confederation organized championship (World Cup, European Championships, Copa America, etc) or qualifying matches for those same events.

Friendlies do *not* count as "A" matches. Jeff Cunningham played in several friendlies for Jamaica before being cap-tied to the US.

Sachin

but that doesn't seem to be what the definition is saying.

[Adam Zebrowski]

the definition has changed since sachin's understanding....

the interesting aspect of the new rule, is assume california decides to become a new republic again, and renounce their allegiance to these united states, a player, regardless of age, and regardless of playing for the usmnt in the 2002 world cup, could play for said nation, republic of california.

[Gary V]

the interesting aspect of the new rule, is assume california decides to become a new republic again, and renounce their allegiance to these united states, a player, regardless of age, and regardless of playing for the usmnt in the 2002 world cup, could play for said nation, republic of california.
I'm sure that's been in effect for several years now, as parts of Europe divide.

The other interesting part, about being born in the country or parents or grandparents born there, must be the new "Qatar rule". That countries can't just purchase new uncapped citizens.

[Adam Zebrowski]

in distance running, qatar has purchased a handful of kenyans....

$1000 per month for life....shaheen is the most noted....although his name in kenya is stephen cherono

here's some details...

http://www.mashadanews.com/extra/anmviewer.asp?a=12&z=5