FAI secure Gibson but lose out in FIFA's ruling
Tuesday October 23 2007
The FAI have won the Darron Gibson battle with the IFA; but the Association has lost the war.
FIFA have told the FAI they can keep the services of the Northern Ireland-born midfielder, currently on loan at Wolves.
Also, FIFA won't impose any sanction over Gibson's involvement for the Republic of Ireland in the Euro 2008 qualifiers.
But going forward, as they like to say, the future isn't so bright for the FAI, who may no longer quote the Good Friday Agreement as an excuse for drafting up players born on the island of Ireland.
From now on, FIFA statutes count, which means the FAI can only call on players born in the Republic, or whose parents, or grand-parents, are born in the Republic.
In that sense, the outcome is a positive result for the IFA, as they need no longer worry about having their nest disturbed by FAI poachers from south of the Border.
