Fifa rules let young stars play patriot games
Ben Woodburn was not ‘stolen’ by Wales, especially when age-related nationality can be so fluid, writes James Corrigan
Alex Zahavi has already played for Portugal U-17s, US U-20s and Israel U-21s
There has been the definite whiff of sour grapes in some of the English reaction to Ben Woodburn’s astonishing contribution to Wales’s World Cup cause in the last week. And the attempt to conceal the green-eyed monster with the old “looking at the bigger picture” line was frankly laughable.
One radio call-in host told me, via social media, that asking the listeners to express their opinions whether the 17-year-old is, in fact, “English”, was a “debate about the essence of international sport”. But it wasn’t really, was it?
It was about a talented young footballer born in England and raised in England by parents who were also born in England and raised in England having the temerity to play for some team other than England.
That is what these “debates” are invariably about and the nationalistic bias they inevitably provoke is why they are very rarely worth the cost of the call to the 0800 number they are conducted upon. No such fuss was made when Andy King went down the same path eight years ago. Funny that. It is not to say the subject should not be considered and argued, but, please do not be so transparent.
Woodburn has been playing for Wales since he was just a teenager, opting to play for the nation of his grandfather, the border of which is all of two miles from his home town. Fine, rail against Fifa regulations which allow players to claim nationality from grandparents, but to imply that the evil child-catchers in Chris Coleman’s set-up somehow “stole” the Liverpool tyro is a load of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Did England “miss out” on Woodburn? Well, no, because those close to him have insisted that it was always going to be Wales. So move on.
In truth, those fervent patriots would not have to hunt for very long. It was largely missed in all the Woodburn wonder, but last week David Brooks scored for Wales Under-21s in their impressive 3-0 win in Switzerland. It was the Sheffield United midfielder’s debut for the Dragons, but not his international debut.
That came in France at the Toulon Tournament in June. It proved to be such a glorious few weeks for the 20-year-old that on Twitter he has proudly “pinned” a picture of himself as the recipient of the “Best Player Award” – in an England shirt.
Yet, having turned down Wales to play for the eventual champions in Toulon, Brooks then, less than three months later, performed the mother (born in Llangollen) of Cruyff turns to play for Wales in their Euro Under-21 qualifying campaign.
And still he is not sure to whom he will pledge as a senior. Maybe, Brooks will soon discover if he feels more Welsh or English or maybe he will go where he feels there is most opportunity. The rules as they are certainly allow him to play the field and no blame can be attached to the individual. But someone in power should see this is threatening to make a farce of age-group participation and beyond. Never mind a flag of convenience, these are flags of lenience.
Alex Zahavi, the great nephew of arch agent Pini Zahavi, has played for Portugal Under-17s, US Under-20s and Israel Under-21s – but has yet to appear for any country at senior level, presumably because he is thoroughly confused. Fifa could fix this ludicrous state of international affairs by reverting to the rules which stated once you had represented a nation at Under-18 level or above you were then tied in.
After all, if you are old enough at 17 to drive, reproduce, go to war and be hailed as the World Cup saviour by an adoring nation, you are definitely old enough to make up your mind.