http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/feedarticle/8539751 The rule that requires a player with official youth appearances to decide to switch national team affiliations before his 21st birthday has apparently been abolished. Players are still permanently cap-tied by an appearance in an official senior competition. I assume that the requirement that the player can only switch to a country for which he was eligible at the time of his first official youth appearance remains intact. Just now he has no age deadline to make the switch, unless and until he gets a senior cap in an official competition. This would open the door for Arturo Alvarez to make his switch from the USA to El Salvador. Any other US players that might switch?
Very interesting Stuart Holden could switch to Scotland Gabe Ferrari could switch to Italy Sal Zizzo could switch to Italy I am just going to stop there since the list is really long... Does this mean we can still get Castillo??? I think it does! Get him on the phone ASAP!
Why does FIFA do crap like this? It was a good system-- it worked and (most) everyone understood (most of) it. Now we are back in chaos land.
I'd argue it wasn't a good system (to have a 21st b-day cutoff). Allowing players more time to make a National Team career decision (and the option to get official games with a country who actually is interested in them -- beyond the youth NT level -- and with whom they have citizenship) is a fair adaptation by Fifa. If the US doesn't want a player like Alvarez, and he hasn't appeared in a cap-tying senior match, he should have the ability to go play for ES. There are many examples (it would seem) where this (removed age limit deadline) will aid the players (and the sport globally, imo).
Is it possible they did it because they thought it was more fair to the players in question than the current system?
Hmm, I think stability is the most important part of these types of things. In my humble opinion, not a good idea.
To hell with Rossi, he doesn't want anything to do with us anyway Sunil should be on the phone to Castillo ASAP We could have him for the Confederations Cup if we act now.. Our LB problems would be solved for years to come! Get him to switch before the qualifiers this weekend! He has hinted at wishing he could play for the USA. Like I said, forget Rossi, go after someone who may want to play for us!
Fair points above about fairness to players in their being able to make a decision at a later time and that being for the benefit of the game, but also now opening the door to players not making a decision and waiting. It will be interesting to see how it changes the decision-making process. As for why FIFA did it, I hate to be such a sceptic, but my initial reaction is let's wait and see who makes an announcement in the next 3-6 months as this was likely done to accommodate a specific situation for a country with sufficient power to move it through.....
this thread's title is a bit confusing. one can't "switch national teams" (if they are officially tied at the senior level). this just opens the door for players with youth caps to switch to a nation (with whom they also have citizenship) for official senior national team appearances (with no regards to how old the player now is when he opts to commit to a full senior NT).
You should create a seperate thread devoted soley to this topic then, because I'm sure BS nation will be all over it...
I would start a thread on this as soon as I see a link that confirms the age-limit has been abolished. Seriously... Bradley is busy at the moment but Gulati should be on the phone asap. People have no idea what a big opportunity this is.
Clearly Fifa were reading my brilliant thoughts back in the Alvarez thread in January: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=16708157#post16708157 and others agreed at the time: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=16708236#post16708236 although, it appears it was an African voting block that got this rule changed, as clearly it will help nations that "lose" players at the youth level and are never able to "get them back" at the senior level, even if the other country has no intention of using that player at the senior level. and from later in that Alvarez thread: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?p=16709202#post16709202 overall, I think this is a wise adjustment by Fifa now (or whenever this new rule will go into effect). it will be good for the game, and it will help players (and the decisions they make) at both the youth and senior levels.
Ok, if this rule did change: These players become eligible for the USMNT: 1. Edgar Castillo (pending this week as he may play for Mexico) These players become eligible to play for other countries even though under the old rules they would not have been (i.e. we can now lose them): A. Alvarez (El Salvador) S. Holden (Scotland) S. Zizzo (italy) G. Ferrari (Italy) Ineligible still: Rossi, Subotic,
This list is so long of players we could lose Zak Whitbread, Cervi, and I believe Preston Zimmerman and Patrick Ianni. These guys along with a whole bunch of others would be in that list. It's not worth it to think about. We just have to hope Castillo walks out of camp or doesn't play for Mexico this weekend.