Recent data from the UK’s Office for National Statistics showed there are now almost 160,000 UK citizens living in England and Wales while holding an Irish passport, an increase of almost 600% since 2011.
La Liga restricts teams to registering a maximum of five non-EU players in their squad, and teams can have no more than three non-EU players in any matchday squad. Some industry insiders are sceptical as to whether Bellingham’s use of his Irish passport to avoid non-EU quotas is one example of a widespread practice, with one agent telling The 42 they believe this is only the start of a trend, if indeed it becomes a trend at all.
Post-Brexit, any EU passport is useful leverage in a young player’s contract negotiations. A player cannot sign their first professional contract with a UK club until they turn 17 while they are no longer allowed move abroad until they are 18, leaving them with a restricted choice of clubs.That choice is further narrowed by a general agreement among English clubs not to compete among each other for the signing of younger teenagers.
Where recruitment of dual-eligible players was the rock upon which Ireland built their unprecedented success under Jack Charlton, a failure of retention is the signature fact of Ireland’s years of mediocrity since Euro 2016. That is not to suggest the FAI are blind to the benefits of dual-eligible players, or cannot compete for their services. Belfast-born Sean Moore played for Northern Ireland at the non-competitive U18 level, but has represented the Republic of Ireland at U19 level and the FAI expect him to commit to them.
“I think all you can do as a head coach is take the player’s word for it”, says Irish U21 manager Jim Crawford on his approach to dual-eligible players.