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About That All-Ireland Football Team
Now that Northern Ireland's football team have just finished playing a couple of international matches, it seems it's time for the obligatory whinge to the local press about the perceived need for an all-Ireland football team. As ever, this argument will be made by a Northern Irish Irish-nationalist and based on the flimsiest of logic, and will be given airtime/column-inches on a slow news day.
This all-Ireland team will be called for regardless of whether Northern Ireland have just taken a 4-0 hammering, or just pulled off a once twice in a lifetime giant-killing feat. They will also usually cite the opinions of players who never reached their full potential playing for Northern Ireland.
Normally I would point out all sorts of reasons why this can't happen. I'd point out that Northern Ireland fans would be strongly opposed to what would at worst amount to little more than abolishing the Northern Ireland team, and at best having it absorbed into the Republic's side. They would argue that it has worked for Rugby. I would point out that it hasn't. I might also suggest that they check up on UEFA/FIFA rules, specifically the parts that state any new teams admitted must represent a nation-state (as defined by and registered with the UN).
Fortunately, this time I don't need to say any of those things, thanks to a few friendly travellers to Stuttgart last week. Enjoy.