Fifa has issued a perverse ruling which has dealt a blow to the future of the Republic of Ireland football team. Fifa has told the the Republic that they can keep the services of United's Darron Gibson, who was born in Derry and has represented the Republic in recent World Cup qualifiers. However, Northern Ireland's FA have won their case over the eligibility of players in the future.

Fifa has ruled that the Republic may no longer quote the Good Friday Agreement as a reason for drafting up players born on the island of Ireland. This confirmed "the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British...and accordingly confirm that their right to hold both British and Irish citizenship is accepted by both Governments". However as a result of FIFA's ruling an Irish citizen and passport-holder born in the six counties will in future be barred from playing for the Republic, unless their parents or grandparents were born south of the border.

Fortunately this ruling does not affect Gibson. But how will future players feel if, like Gibson, their affinities lie with the Republic but they cannot represent their country.