Kevin Nolan

[briantinnion]

Not on standby for the England World Cup squad, Big Sam didn't get the England job, his England future doesn't look great. If he turned around now and declared for Ireland - would you have him?

I'd tell him to f**k off.

[lyonsee]

He can't play for us afaik as he didn't declare under the amnesty a while back. Further, he has absolutely no interest in playing for us.

[briantinnion]

I am aware the amnesty has finished Lyonsee but there is a very good chance if the FAI appealed for a special dispensation it would be granted and some FIFA top brass (haven't a rashers who-just remember reading it) have said Ireland are free to appeal. I think there is currently an appeal of some sort going for a Ghanian player in a similar situation.

[iamthelaw]

briantinnion said:

I think there is currently an appeal of some sort going for a Ghanian player in a similar situation.

(from http://www.ghanareview.com)
"Ghana's dream of using Borussia Dortmund's rising star David Odonkor has been dashed following the revelation that the youngster cannot take advantage of FIFA's laws on nationality switch.

Odonkor, described by former Ghanaian international, Tony Baffoe, as a very talented and swift winger, is a key member of the German Under-21 team and had been courted by the GFA for a nationality switch to enable him feature for Ghana at Germany 2006.

However, inquiries made by the GFA indicate that the 22-year-old player cannot take advantage of FIFA's dispensation, which enables players of dual nationality who have yet to play for the senior national team of either country to make a nationality switch and play for another country.

In Odonkor's case he had already turned 22 while playing for the German Under-21 side, thus ruling him out completely of playing in the World Cup for his fatherland."

[iamthelaw]

iamthelaw said:

briantinnion said:

I think there is currently an appeal of some sort going for a Ghanian player in a similar situation.

(from http://www.ghanareview.com)
"Ghana's dream of using Borussia Dortmund's rising star David Odonkor has been dashed following the revelation that the youngster cannot take advantage of FIFA's laws on nationality switch.

Odonkor, described by former Ghanaian international, Tony Baffoe, as a very talented and swift winger, is a key member of the German Under-21 team and had been courted by the GFA for a nationality switch to enable him feature for Ghana at Germany 2006.

However, inquiries made by the GFA indicate that the 22-year-old player cannot take advantage of FIFA's dispensation, which enables players of dual nationality who have yet to play for the senior national team of either country to make a nationality switch and play for another country.

In Odonkor's case he had already turned 22 while playing for the German Under-21 side, thus ruling him out completely of playing in the World Cup for his fatherland."

Turns out he didn't need the Ghanaian amnesty to play in the World Cup:

(from football365, today)
"Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann has sprung a Theo Walcott-style selection surprise by naming uncapped Borussia Dortmund striker David Odonkor in his squad for this summer's World Cup.

The 22-year-old has been called up to the hosts' set-up for the very first time, although Klinsmann revealed he had been part of his plans for a while now.

"I guess it will come as a surprise that David Odonkor is in the squad, but he has been part of our thoughts for a long time,'' explained Klinsmann.

"We have left him out up to now intentionally as we thought it may be too much for him at a young age to have all the pressure.''"