GREALISH COUP
Jack picks England but Roy can’t play him yet
JACK GREALISH’s england debut has been put on hold after it emerged he will have to wait several weeks for international clearance from FIFA to switch countries.
The aston Villa midfielder, who has been courted by the Fa for months, announced yesterday he was turning his back on the republic of ireland team to represent england.
england head coach roy Hodgson names his squad for euro 2016 qualifiers against estonia and Lithuania on Thursday, but grealish will not receive international clearance by then.
grealish, who turned 20 earlier this month, released a short statement confirming his decision after months of speculation about his future. He said: ‘i have decided to give my allegiance to england. it was not an easy decision as ireland has a special place through my family. However, i have decided to represent the country of my birth.’
Hodgson is pleased with grealish’s decision and is also relaxed about the vast amount of paperwork that will need to be supplied to FIFA before he can be selected for a squad.
england’s head coach has spoken to grealish and his club manager Tim sherwood a number of times about the player joining england and has finally convinced the forward to make the switch. grealish has appeared four times for the republic of ireland Under 21s and the senior squad’s head coach Martin o’neill wanted him to face england in a friendly last June. But grealish wanted more time to consider his future and was urged by sherwood to play for the country that he felt most strongly about.
grealish was born in solihull, but was eligible to play for ireland because three of his four grandparents were born in the country.
now grealish has decided to represent england, the Fa have pledged to provide all the support he needs to satisfy FIFA demands.
grealish must submit an official request to FIFA to change association, together with a number of supporting documents, before he can be called into any of england’s teams.
He must also wait for the republic of ireland to confirm, in a letter to world football’s governing body, that he has not played a match in full, or in part, in an official a international.
They must confirm that he has played in a number of Under 17, Under 18 and Under 21 matches for the republic of ireland. according to FIFA statutes, grealish needs to provide a signed statement to confirm he understands the impact of the switch and that he accepts it will be irreversible once granted.
FIFA red tape can take weeks to overcome and it is unrealistic to expect confirmation of his switch before Hodgson names his squad on Thursday, particularly given that assistance is needed from the republic of ireland.
naturally, the Football association of ireland will be irritated by grealish turning his back on the country after they courted him for so long.
instead, Hodgson is looking at including grealish — subject to form and fitness — for the friendlies against spain on november 13 and France on november 17.
england’s assistant manager ray Lewington watched grealish play for Villa at Liverpool on saturday, but he was primarily at anfield to see the return to form of Daniel sturridge.
grealish has had a mixed start to the season for Villa, but sherwood rates him highly and claims his valuation in the transfer market is £60million.