All Rhodes lead to Scotland
Posted: Thursday 12 January 2012
The complicated issue of a footballer’s eligibility to play for a national country has again come into focus following the recent goal-scoring exploits of Huddersfield Town FC’s 21 year old striker Jordan Rhodes.
Despite only being just over halfway through the domestic season, Rhodes has already scored 25 league goals for his club including 5 in Huddersfield’s last match away to Wycombe Wanderers. Unsurprisingly several English Premier League clubs are said to be interested in signing him during the January transfer window.
Whilst it remains to be seen whether he will still be plying his trade for Huddersfield come the start of February, what is certain is that Oldham-born Rhodes is committed to playing international football for Scotland.
Those of you with an interest in football will know that Jordan Rhodes is by no means the first home nation footballer to pledge his allegiance to a country in which he was not born in. Ex Liverpool and Aston Villa legend Ray Houghton was born in Glasgow but ended up with 73 caps for the Republic of Ireland whilst Canadian born Man City midfielder Owen Hargreaves has 42 caps for England.
What makes Rhodes different from Houghton and Hargreaves is that he does not qualify to play for Scotland due to the nationality of his mother or father – he qualifies because he attended school in Scotland for over 5 years.
So, how is this possible?
The current rules for player eligibility are set out in chapter VII of FIFA’s “Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes”.
Article 15 of the regulations allow for any person holding a permanent nationality that is not dependent on residence in a certain country to play for the representative teams of the Association of that country.
Whilst this rule applies to all member countries, the home nations (i.e. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) are in a somewhat unique situation as they are four separate countries which together form the United Kingdom.
It was for this reason that the home nations came to an agreement in the early 1990s which provides that any player who holds a British passport was only eligible to play for the country of his birth, the country of either of his parents’ birth or the country of any of his grandparents’ birth.
Crucially for Jordan Rhodes, this agreement was further supplemented in 2009 when FIFA ratified a proposal from the home nations to allow players with 5 years of compulsory education in a home nation country to represent that nation. As Rhodes was schooled at Cairneyhill Primary School in Dunfermline until primary 5, he qualifies to play for Scotland under the new ruling. Interestingly the new rule would have meant that Michael Owen could have played for Wales whilst Welsh legend Ryan Giggs could have decided to wear the white of England.
Although Rhodes made his first senior appearance for Scotland in November’s 2-1 friendly win over Cyprus, it is worth noting that he still remains eligible to play for England until he plays a competitive match in Scotland’s colours. This will mean a nervous wait for the Tartan Army as Scotland’s next competitive match is not until their opening World Cup 2014 qualifier against Serbia on 8 September 2012 at Hampden Park.
It remains to be seen whether Jordan Rhodes can fulfil his undoubted potential and go on to become an established Scottish international. If he does, the nation will owe a debt of gratitude to Cairneyhill Primary School.
If you would like to discuss this further contact Paul Geoghegan on our Sports Desk or email sportsdesk@morton-fraser.com.
