Extreme Football Forum  |  Football Forums  |  General Football Forum  |  Topic: Arteta for England ?

Thta's this residence thing. I think Half of The South American National teams are made up of players born outside that Country, just because they have lived there for a few years.

 

I bet Gemma wouldn't mind him playing with her either 

 

I may be a lone voice in this, I don't know but as good as Arteta is he should NEVER be allowed to play for England. And for that matter should a Torres, an Eduardo etc.

It is a total joke and the whole thing with some countries is getting beyond a joke.
The rules should be plain and simple, born in a country then that's your nationality and the country you can play for. It is a crying shame that a player as talented as Arteta can't make his own national squad. Unfortunately for him there are currently better players for Spain in midfield. That is not anybodies fault it is a fact. That therefore should not suddenly give him options to go live somewhere, claim residency after five years and play for that team. It is just not right.

I can see that there are a few occaisions when someone maybe born in England but have an Irish parent say and decide that they want to follow their parents Irish tradition, or vice versa, and play for that country. I maybe would say that is acceptable to a degree but ultimately for me it's where you are born plain and simple.

 

MIKEL ARTETA'S HOPES CRUSHED AS FIFA STICK TO RULES

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/197038/Mikel-Arteta-s-hopes-crushed-as-FIFA-stick-to-rules



MIKEL ARTETA’S hopes of pulling on an England shirt have been dashed after FIFA confirmed he cannot switch his allegiance from Spain.

Clarification of the rulebook came as a surprise to Everton midfielder Arteta, England coach Fabio Capello and also the FA, with the debate over his future having been allowed to intensify over the past week.

Capello had sounded out Arteta, who is able to apply for permanent residency and then British citizenship having spent the last five-and-a-half years on Merseyside, about the prospect of playing a part in the latter stages of England’s Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, which begins tomorrow night against Bulgaria.

Arteta, 28, has never been picked for Spain at senior level, despite playing for their Under-16s, U17s, U18s and U21s, with whom he won 12 caps, and admitted he would “seriously consider” the offer if Capello firmed up his interest.

But a line was drawn under what has become an academic episode after FIFA’s statutes confirmed Arteta would have had to have also been eligible for England at the time he played for Spain U21s in order to make the switch.

Article 18.1(a) imposes the condition that “at the time of a player’s first full or partial appearance in an international match in an official competition for his current association” he must already have “the nationality of the representative team for which he wishes to play”.

An FA spokesman said: “Under our understanding of FIFA rules, the player is ineligible to play for England.”

In one respect the end of the debate relieves Capello of a headache he can do without as he looks to rebuild after the World Cup debacle.

Selling the idea of introducing Arteta was always going to be a difficult one for the England coach, who has other concerns ahead of the clash with Bulgaria.