Pick a nationality?

[Kermit power]

I don't understand why people are allowed to play sports for countries other than their own?

OK, if you've got parents of different nationalities, you should be allowed to choose, and I can just about accept someone born and raised in a country playing for that country if they are of a different nationality, but residency and the like just makes a farce of representing your country.

Let's take Dirk Nannes as an example. He had his debut for Australia in the ODI against Scotland yesterday, despite playing Twenty20 for Holland 2 months ago! How can that be acceptable under any circumstances?

[Dracoro]

I suppose it will come down to how you identify nationality in the sporting arena. I think once you've decided and played for a nation, that's it, you can't change it. Not sure how to treat dual nationality though.

I seem to remember a load of English footballers, when realising they aren't good enough for England, ending up playing for Ireland/Wales etc. due to some tenuous link to a distant relative coming from said country. Actually, since England/Scotland/Wales/NI aren't nations as such (GB/UK is), how does FIFA/UEFA define it?

I read a short while back that Arsenal keeper Almunia may be up for playing for England............

[JQ]

I must admit I don't agree with residence being a reason for nationality, but you should definately be able to chose the country if you have dual nationality. My 14 month old son has British and Icelandic Passports and there's definately more chance of him going to the Olympics with Iceland - it has a total population of 300,000.

[ewenm]

It's also frustrating that different sports have different rules. For example, I could play football or rugby for Scotland but can't run for them in the Commonwealth Games - grandparents count in some sports but not in others.

I have no problem with immigrants competing for their new country (Mo Farah being a good example in my sport - Somalian but UK resident since age of 7 or so) but believe that once you've competed for a country at any level, then you can't subsequently change your allegiance.

[samwilliams]

I think the worst one is in athletics where some of the African runners were pretty much bought by various countries. I'm not aware of any other sports where that happens.

[ewenm]

samwilliams said:

I think the worst one is in athletics where some of the African runners were pretty much bought by various countries. I'm not aware of any other sports where that happens.

The Kenyan exodus to Bahrain & Qatar is somewhat frustrating but you can't really blame the athletes for taking the opportunity given the level of competition for the 3/4/5 championship places in the Kenyan team. The IAAF should have tighter rules about change of nationality (they do now, but it's a little late).

[unrepentant]

Kermit power said:

I don't understand why people are allowed to play sports for countries other than their own?

OK, if you've got parents of different nationalities, you should be allowed to choose, and I can just about accept someone born and raised in a country playing for that country if they are of a different nationality, but residency and the like just makes a farce of representing your country.

Let's take Dirk Nannes as an example. He had his debut for Australia in the ODI against Scotland yesterday, despite playing Twenty20 for Holland 2 months ago! How can that be acceptable under any circumstances?

I think the Nannes example illustrates the anomaly that exists where players are allowed to play for more than 1 country. I assume in his case (as with Ed Joyce who I believe has played for Ireland and England in ODI's?) it's because these are not 1st class matches?

However Kepler Wessels played tests for SA and the convicts. But it's not new, The Nawab of Pataudi played for both England and India in the 1930's. I also think Stuart Law was eligible for selection by England having qualified through residency after playing for the convicts?

I agree that it is farcical for people to play for more than 1 national team. As for choosing a country you are not born in - if they banned that Ireland would never have a football team!

[Lastinclass]

The current Scottish cricket captain has played for England in a ODI and I think a test(?)

[ShadownINja]

Surely, it should be based on pride. I mean, as an example, you wouldn't catch me supporting China or Malaysia (my family are from there), but if I was good enough to represent England, I would be so proud. How about the national anthem test (or maybe, the Jerusalem test, if it's the UK)? If they show ambivalence, then they can't play. (Yes, I know, none of it is scientific.)