If, in the future, McCarthy and McGeady have sexual intercourse with a female and create life, could their hypothetical sons play for Ireland like their dads or would they need to play for Scotland, even if McGeady's hypothetical son really loves his trips to Ireland and McCarthy's son hasn't had a call up by Scotland by the age of 2 and 3 quarters?

Or would they not be eligible as it would only be their great grandad who was really Irish?

Taking out the sarcasm, that's something I've wondered about in the past. Not about McGeady and McCarthy obviously but it works for us too.

If for the sake of argument Neil Sullivan's son becomes a talented footballer Or Matt Elliott's does, would they be eligible to play for Scotland? I'm guessing the answer is "no" since they were (presumably) not born here and would have to go up to great-grandparent to find a relative who was. But does the fact their father's played for Scotland re-set the clock in any way?

As I understand it, any children born to them would have an Irish citizen as a parent at the time of their birth and therefore would be eligible themselves.

They would have to register with the 'foreign births register'.

Edit: And the situation with Scotland is slightly different as eligibility for the 'home nations' is dictated by archaic "gentlemen's agreements" rather than citizenship.

Since Jamie and Aiden have changed their nationalities from British to Irish, any sons they have in the future be eligible to play for the ROI. These hypothetical children will also be eligible to play for Scotland as the paternal grandparents will all be Scottish.

Have they really though? Surely that's just in a football sense. I don't see how either could (legally) change their nationality.

they'd have to take up an irish passport for them to play.as citizens ,their grandkids would also be eligible for one

Yes if they papped the women off to Ireland to give birth and then returned to Scotland to claim benefits such prescriptions ,maternity pay etc.
What a stupid question yous feckers are obssessed.

A wee bit off topic, but would I be right in saying a person could theoretically pick between 12 countries, if not more?

Say you had grandparents born in Argentina, Brazil, Japan and China. Then parents born in France and Italy. Then you are born in Spain, then live in Belgium for enough years for citizenship, then the same for the UK. Could you then pick between Argentina, Brazil, Japan, China, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Even then could you not obtain citizenship from more countries if you had lived there for long enough? Also, what if your parents had other nationalities, and also grandparents, could you then even play for them?

Sorry if way off the mark.

I wouldn't have thought so. I'd be surprised if either of them carried Irish passports - why would they? They've never lived there.

I don't know this but it may well be the case that you are required to take up a passport for the country you choose to represent?

That's a possible reason. It's certainly required for players qualifying through the citzenship route (obviously) but I'm not sure it is for people qualifying by parentage / grandparentage. It might also be particular to countries rather than a UEFA requirement.

as far as i know only ireland have it so that someone with a grandparent born in ireland is entitled to citizenship.we certainly have the most liberal laws in this regard in europe.in switzerland for example,its possible to be born there to parents born there and still not be eligible for a swiss passport

I'm suprised the Irish never made a move for Diego Forlan??????

Appartently his grandad is Irish!!!!!!!!

I personally could choose between, Scotland(my birth), Nigeria(Fathers birth), N.Ireland(Mother's birth), Singapore(Maternal Grandmother's birth), England(Maternal Grandfather and Paternal Grandmother's birth) and India(Paternal Grandfather's birth)

your mother being from the six counties would entitle you to an irish passport aswell

I want to live in American Samoa for five years when I'm older, I reckon I'd be good enough to get in their national side.

Going off at a slight tangent, can anyone remember the situation regarding Tommy Coyne and Ireland. I could be talking shite but i thought he only had an Irish great-grandparent and that to qualify, his mum took out Irish citizenship under the above rule. Is that garbage? If not it seems daft anyway.

Tangenting also, Tony Cascarino played for Ireland with no Irish connections, bloodwise, whatsoever. He thoguht he qualified through his Irish grandfather though it later transpired that he was adopted - he only found out after he'd been capped. Though apparently his adoptive mother had the right to Irish citizenship.

Another player who i believe was eligible to play for Scotland

You're an Enigma, right enough. You also stay in Stirling and Hamilton(edit - and support Raith!). You must have an identity crisis.

his grandmother was from donegal

Cheers. Don't know why that story stuck in my head.

If I was any good at Football I could play for Scotland, England or Malta.

not a bother

Haddinton actually. I don't even know who I am!

I do support Raith but im not even from Fife in the slightest!

Having just read his book - he says that in order to play for Ireland he needed an Irish passport, which was rushed through to get him into the squad, and a reason he believes his actual eligibility was overlooked!