Burns welcomes end to player eligibility row

Friday 30 July 2010

SDLP Culture, Arts and Leisure spokesman Thomas Burns MLA has welcomed the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne to uphold the decision of Belfast-born footballer Daniel Kearns to declare for the Republic of Ireland.

He said: "The SDLP has consistently argued that footballers should have the right to choose which team to play for whether that is Northern Ireland or the Republic.

"In the past the party has written to FIFA requesting them to respect and recognise the right of northern players to pick which international side they wish to declare for.

"Given Ireland's political circumstances and complex set of relationships between the jurisdictions it is only right that any footballer is given the freedom to make up their own mind on which team they wish to represent.

"Therefore, the SDLP welcome today's decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport which reinforces the passport eligibility procedures for Irish citizens as set out in the Good Friday Agreement."