FIFA eligibility rules

[Monoethnic Social Club]

Mum was born in Napoli and migrated in the 1960s. Alex Tobin was my favourite player for many years (defender alliance), although I used to love watching Steve Maxwell (RIP) - such a magic player.

Your credentials check out

Didnt realise Maxwell had passed away, RIP.

 

[NicCarBel]

Howdy. I am new to the forum but a long time lurker.

I'm James Kitching, former Director of Regulatory at FIFA, from Adelaide (don't hold either against me!).

I tweet occasionally here: https://x.com/jrvkfootball

I oversaw the new eligibility rules passed at the FIFA Congress in 2020 - happy to answer any questions as to how they operate - or any questions at all about global football governance.

Howdy!

I’m not sure if you’ve seen in another thread, but I’m of the understanding that the change of association process - once a player plays a game for their new country at any level - effectively ties them earlier than the whole “3 competitive game at senior level” regs.

Example, if Volpato or Arena complete the process to change from Italy to Australia, once they’ve played once for Australia, they cannot change back?

 

[jrvkfootball]

Howdy!

I’m not sure if you’ve seen in another thread, but I’m of the understanding that the change of association process - once a player plays a game for their new country at any level - effectively ties them earlier than the whole “3 competitive game at senior level” regs.

Example, if Volpato or Arena complete the process to change from Italy to Australia, once they’ve played once for Australia, they cannot change back?

Hi NicCarBel

You are talking about slightly different things.

• the 3 match "A" team rule (whether official competition or non-official competition) is part of a specific exception for a player that wants to change association for the first time
• the exception to the 'one change' rule is the only exception which allows a player that wants to reverse a previous change of association decision made by FIFA

Either path may tie a player to a specific football association earlier, it depends on their circumstances.

For the exception to the 'one change' rule:

• the primary rule is that once a player has been fielded by a representative team in an official competition (at any level, in any type of football), they are tied to that football association
• an official competition is one organised by FIFA (e.g. World Cup) or a confederation (e.g. Asian Cup, Euros, Nations League), and includes qualifiers and finals
• there are 5 exceptions to the primary rule through which a player may change (football) association that they wish to represent
• once a player changes association, that decision is final (i.e. you can only change association once) - with one exception, to avoid abuse and hardships
• the exception to the "one change" rule is where your new association does not field you in any match (official or unofficial). A player may request the reversal of that decision to their former association. If your new association has fielded you in any match, then you are tied to that association.

Prior to 2020, a change of association decision made by FIFA was final and could not be reversed. The exception was created to avoid abusive situations where kids / their parents were being convinced by football associations which shared a nationality to change association and were never fielded. This happened far more than many people were aware.

From memory, pretty sure this is covered in the FIFA commentary. The Director at FIFA at the time may have had some influence on the image used on the cover page

For Volpato and Arena, very short answer to your Q is YES:

• because both have represented Italy in an official competition, they are tied to FIGC unless they meet 1 of the 5 exceptions
• if they do meet an exception and request to make a change of association to FA, they are tied to FA as soon as they are fielded by FA in any match.
• if they are never fielded by FA in any match, there is always the possibility that they can request a reversal of the FIFA decision to change association from FIGC to FA.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[HonestSpursFan]

Hi NicCarBel

You are talking about slightly different things.

• the 3 match "A" team rule (whether official competition or non-official competition) is part of a specific exception for a player that wants to change association for the first time;
• the exception to the 'one change' rule is the only exception which allows a player that wants to reverse a previous change of association decision made by FIFA

Either path may tie a player to a specific football association earlier, it depends on their circumstances.

For the exception to the 'one change' rule:

• the primary rule is that once a player has been fielded by a representative team in an official competition (at any level, in any type of football), they are tied to that football association
• an official competition is one organised by FIFA (e.g. World Cup) or a confederation (e.g. Asian Cup, Euros, Nations League), and includes qualifiers and finals
• there are 5 exceptions to the primary rule through which a player may change (football) association that they wish to represent
• once a player changes association, that decision is final (i.e. you can only change association once) - with one exception, to avoid abuse and hardships
• the exception to the "one change" rule is where your new association does not field you in any match (official or unofficial). A player may request the reversal of that decision to their former association. If your new association has fielded you in any match, then you are tied to that association.

Prior to 2020, a change of association decision made by FIFA was final and could not be reversed. The exception was created to avoid abusive situations where kids / their parents were being convinced by football associations which shared a nationality to change association and were never fielded. This happened far more than many people were aware.

From memory, pretty sure this is covered in the FIFA commentary. The Director at FIFA at the time may have had some influence on the image used on the cover page

For Volpato and Arena, very short answer to you Q is YES:

• because both have represented Italy in an official competition, they are tied to FIGC unless they meet 1 of the 5 exceptions
• if they do meet an exception and request to make a change of association to FA, they are tied to FA as soon as they are fielded by FA in any match.
• if they are never fielded by FA in any match, there is always the possibility that they can request a reversal of the FIFA decision to change association from FIGC to FA.

Hope that makes sense.

So is Daniela Galić (who played five games including one in the SheBelieves Cup (a friendly tournament) plus four friendlies) tied to the Matildas forever now or could Croatia still swipe her? If yes then Joe Montemurro needs to hurry up and pick her next time.

 

[rebelliousfeminist974]

Hi NicCarBel

You are talking about slightly different things.

• the 3 match "A" team rule (whether official competition or non-official competition) is part of a specific exception for a player that wants to change association for the first time
• the exception to the 'one change' rule is the only exception which allows a player that wants to reverse a previous change of association decision made by FIFA

Either path may tie a player to a specific football association earlier, it depends on their circumstances.

For the exception to the 'one change' rule:

• the primary rule is that once a player has been fielded by a representative team in an official competition (at any level, in any type of football), they are tied to that football association
• an official competition is one organised by FIFA (e.g. World Cup) or a confederation (e.g. Asian Cup, Euros, Nations League), and includes qualifiers and finals
• there are 5 exceptions to the primary rule through which a player may change (football) association that they wish to represent
• once a player changes association, that decision is final (i.e. you can only change association once) - with one exception, to avoid abuse and hardships
• the exception to the "one change" rule is where your new association does not field you in any match (official or unofficial). A player may request the reversal of that decision to their former association. If your new association has fielded you in any match, then you are tied to that association.

Prior to 2020, a change of association decision made by FIFA was final and could not be reversed. The exception was created to avoid abusive situations where kids / their parents were being convinced by football associations which shared a nationality to change association and were never fielded. This happened far more than many people were aware.

From memory, pretty sure this is covered in the FIFA commentary. The Director at FIFA at the time may have had some influence on the image used on the cover page

For Volpato and Arena, very short answer to your Q is YES:

• because both have represented Italy in an official competition, they are tied to FIGC unless they meet 1 of the 5 exceptions
• if they do meet an exception and request to make a change of association to FA, they are tied to FA as soon as they are fielded by FA in any match.
• if they are never fielded by FA in any match, there is always the possibility that they can request a reversal of the FIFA decision to change association from FIGC to FA.

Hope that makes sense.

Would this also be the case for a player representing an age-grade side at a senior official tournament despite only being capped for friendlies at senior level? For example, Izzy Gomez represented the under-23 Matildas at the ASEAN Women's Championship, but has only made one senior appearance in a friendly, so would she in theory be able to jump ship to the Mexican football federation or is she tied to Football Australia?

 

[HappyGuus]

Is it correct that Arena moved overseas before he was 16? How was that allowed?

 

[jrvkfootball]

So is Daniela Galić (who played five games including one in the SheBelieves Cup (a friendly tournament) plus four friendlies) tied to the Matildas forever now or could Croatia still swipe her? If yes then Joe Montemurro needs to hurry up and pick her next time.

As far as I am aware, Galic has only played in an "official competition" for youth national teams, and not the "A" team.

The "3 match rule" therefore does not apply (which to be clear is only 1 of 5 criteria that must be met under that exception), as that exception is only for players that seek to change association after having represented the "A" team in an "official competition".

If she was fielded for the Matildas in an official competition, then yes, she would not be eligible for a change of association based on failing to meet that particular criterion in the exception.

 

[jrvkfootball]

Would this also be the case for a player representing an age-grade side at a senior official tournament despite only being capped for friendlies at senior level? For example, Izzy Gomez represented the under-23 Matildas at the ASEAN Women's Championship, but has only made one senior appearance in a friendly, so would she in theory be able to jump ship to the Mexican football federation or is she tied to Football Australia?

In that scenario, the player is not tied to any football association as she does not appear to have played in an "official competition".

(Matches organised by AFF are not considered an "official competition" - only matches organised by FIFA and confederations).

 

[jrvkfootball]

Is it correct that Arena moved overseas before he was 16? How was that allowed?

You saw my tweet today

Based on the news article and the quotes published, I have no idea. What was stated appeared to clearly contravene FIFA rules.

EDIT: I'm happy to be corrected though, because obviously don't believe everything you read in the media.

 

[NicCarBel]

Hi NicCarBel

You are talking about slightly different things.

• the 3 match "A" team rule (whether official competition or non-official competition) is part of a specific exception for a player that wants to change association for the first time
• the exception to the 'one change' rule is the only exception which allows a player that wants to reverse a previous change of association decision made by FIFA

Either path may tie a player to a specific football association earlier, it depends on their circumstances.

For the exception to the 'one change' rule:

• the primary rule is that once a player has been fielded by a representative team in an official competition (at any level, in any type of football), they are tied to that football association
• an official competition is one organised by FIFA (e.g. World Cup) or a confederation (e.g. Asian Cup, Euros, Nations League), and includes qualifiers and finals
• there are 5 exceptions to the primary rule through which a player may change (football) association that they wish to represent
• once a player changes association, that decision is final (i.e. you can only change association once) - with one exception, to avoid abuse and hardships
• the exception to the "one change" rule is where your new association does not field you in any match (official or unofficial). A player may request the reversal of that decision to their former association. If your new association has fielded you in any match, then you are tied to that association.

Prior to 2020, a change of association decision made by FIFA was final and could not be reversed. The exception was created to avoid abusive situations where kids / their parents were being convinced by football associations which shared a nationality to change association and were never fielded. This happened far more than many people were aware.

From memory, pretty sure this is covered in the FIFA commentary. The Director at FIFA at the time may have had some influence on the image used on the cover page

For Volpato and Arena, very short answer to your Q is YES:

• because both have represented Italy in an official competition, they are tied to FIGC unless they meet 1 of the 5 exceptions
• if they do meet an exception and request to make a change of association to FA, they are tied to FA as soon as they are fielded by FA in any match.
• if they are never fielded by FA in any match, there is always the possibility that they can request a reversal of the FIFA decision to change association from FIGC to FA.

Hope that makes sense.

Thank you - I knew they were different things, but was talking to someone about switch backs and etc, so had to find a way to connect them, but that basically sums up the way I thought it would play out.

 

[NicCarBel]

You saw my tweet today

Based on the news article and the quotes published, I have no idea. What was stated appeared to clearly contravene FIFA rules.

EDIT: I'm happy to be corrected though, because obviously don't believe everything you read in the media.

There was probably some loose interpretation of moving with/for family I assume

 

[Quicky]

Is Vescan-Kodor eligible to play for Australia?

 

[Quicky]

Are there any loopholes for @VOLKIRA sons situation?

Post in thread 'Australian Dual Nationals 🇦🇺🏳️'

Nov 28, 2024

I haven't registered for a club in over 10 years, so I cannot remember for the life of me what goes on the FFA/FNSW registration forms.

https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/ccab990abf45fcf6/original/ro8mje8vw98yp3rvfbmi-pdf.pdf

This is what I use when I try to research things. It's basically an official FIFA document explaining their regulations.

There's also another rule.
I was born overseas but arrived in Australia when I was a year old.I got naturalised when I turned 18.
I moved to Germany after spending over 40 years in Australia.
My son was born in Germany and has dual...

• VOLKIRA

• 

 

[NicCarBel]

Are there any loopholes for @VOLKIRA sons situation?

Post in thread 'Australian Dual Nationals 🇦🇺🏳️'

Nov 28, 2024

I haven't registered for a club in over 10 years, so I cannot remember for the life of me what goes on the FFA/FNSW registration forms.

https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/ccab990abf45fcf6/original/ro8mje8vw98yp3rvfbmi-pdf.pdf

This is what I use when I try to research things. It's basically an official FIFA document explaining their regulations.

There's also another rule.
I was born overseas but arrived in Australia when I was a year old.I got naturalised when I turned 18.
I moved to Germany after spending over 40 years in Australia.
My son was born in Germany and has dual...

• VOLKIRA

• 

Ah forgot about that story

 

[jrvkfootball]

Are there any loopholes for @VOLKIRA sons situation?

Post in thread 'Australian Dual Nationals 🇦🇺🏳️'

Nov 28, 2024

I haven't registered for a club in over 10 years, so I cannot remember for the life of me what goes on the FFA/FNSW registration forms.

https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/ccab990abf45fcf6/original/ro8mje8vw98yp3rvfbmi-pdf.pdf

This is what I use when I try to research things. It's basically an official FIFA document explaining their regulations.

There's also another rule.
I was born overseas but arrived in Australia when I was a year old.I got naturalised when I turned 18.
I moved to Germany after spending over 40 years in Australia.
My son was born in Germany and has dual...

• VOLKIRA

• 

If his son held Australian nationality from birth, he is eligible to participate for FA representative teams.

Would depend on Australian citizenship law.

 

[Bruce Ramsay]

Hi NicCarBel

You are talking about slightly different things.

• the 3 match "A" team rule (whether official competition or non-official competition) is part of a specific exception for a player that wants to change association for the first time
• the exception to the 'one change' rule is the only exception which allows a player that wants to reverse a previous change of association decision made by FIFA

Either path may tie a player to a specific football association earlier, it depends on their circumstances.

For the exception to the 'one change' rule:

• the primary rule is that once a player has been fielded by a representative team in an official competition (at any level, in any type of football), they are tied to that football association
• an official competition is one organised by FIFA (e.g. World Cup) or a confederation (e.g. Asian Cup, Euros, Nations League), and includes qualifiers and finals
• there are 5 exceptions to the primary rule through which a player may change (football) association that they wish to represent
• once a player changes association, that decision is final (i.e. you can only change association once) - with one exception, to avoid abuse and hardships
• the exception to the "one change" rule is where your new association does not field you in any match (official or unofficial). A player may request the reversal of that decision to their former association. If your new association has fielded you in any match, then you are tied to that association.

Prior to 2020, a change of association decision made by FIFA was final and could not be reversed. The exception was created to avoid abusive situations where kids / their parents were being convinced by football associations which shared a nationality to change association and were never fielded. This happened far more than many people were aware.

From memory, pretty sure this is covered in the FIFA commentary. The Director at FIFA at the time may have had some influence on the image used on the cover page

For Volpato and Arena, very short answer to your Q is YES:

• because both have represented Italy in an official competition, they are tied to FIGC unless they meet 1 of the 5 exceptions
• if they do meet an exception and request to make a change of association to FA, they are tied to FA as soon as they are fielded by FA in any match.
• if they are never fielded by FA in any match, there is always the possibility that they can request a reversal of the FIFA decision to change association from FIGC to FA.

Hope that makes sense.

James. Thank you very much for your input to this Forum. I do have one question re the first dot point of your answer regarding Volpato and Arena, above:

Arena and Volpato have represented Italy in Official Competition at Youth level. They have not yet represented Italy in Official Competition at Senior National Team level.

They are presently tied to Italy. My understanding of the FIFA Rules is that they can now request a Change of Association to Australia. They do not need to meet the 5 exceptions.

My further understanding is that the 5 exceptions apply to a player who wishes to Change Association after he/she has already represented their present MA in an Official Competition at Senior National Team level. And that all 5 exceptions need to apply, not just 1 of them.

I would really appreciate it if you could clarify, please.

I have attached a screenshot of a decision tree I prepared a little while ago when I was attempting to set out my understanding of the relevant Change of Association Rules in response to questions/comments by various members on this Forum. If that decision tree is, in fact, still accurate, perhaps it can help others to understand the requirements better than merely reading through the FIFA wording in the Commentary document.

 

[NicCarBel]

James. Thank you very much for your input to this Forum. I do have one question re the first dot point of your answer regarding Volpato and Arena, above:

Arena and Volpato have represented Italy in Official Competition at Youth level. They have not yet represented Italy in Official Competition at Senior National Team level.

They are presently tied to Italy. My understanding of the FIFA Rules is that they can now request a Change of Association to Australia. They do not need to meet the 5 exceptions.

My further understanding is that the 5 exceptions apply to a player who wishes to Change Association after he/she has already represented their present MA in an Official Competition at Senior National Team level. And that all 5 exceptions need to apply, not just 1 of them.

I would really appreciate it if you could clarify, please.

I have attached a screenshot of a decision tree I prepared a little while ago when I was attempting to set out my understanding of the relevant Change of Association Rules in response to questions/comments by various members on this Forum. If that decision tree is, in fact, still accurate, perhaps it can help others to understand the requirements better than merely reading through the FIFA wording in the Commentary document.

In reading the Statutes, not all 5 exceptions need to apply - just one. This is why they are broken down further in the Statutes (page 67).

Essentially, the way James has described it is how I was seeing it in when discussed in the AFC Women's Asian Cup thread the other day. Playing for an underage team in an official competition gives you that nationality. However, you can change only once before playing 3 competitive games (or 1 game at a FIFA or Continental finals tournament). It's the 'only once' thing that makes things a little complicated. Once they change from Italy (as they have already played underage competitive games for Italy), AND they play for Australia (at any level), then they cannot go back.

For example, Tyra Bagiante had played for Tonga by virtue of her mother, I think (yes, I'm a distant relative, I should know which side is Tongan, but I am not 100% sure). In 2024 she played for Tonga in the OFC U-16 Championships. She has since been selected and played for the Junior Matildas (with her change of association having been finalised earlier this year), and thus cannot change back to Tonga (or any other association).

 

[Bruce Ramsay]

In reading the Statutes, not all 5 exceptions need to apply - just one. This is why they are broken down further in the Statutes (page 67).

Essentially, the way James has described it is how I was seeing it in when discussed in the AFC Women's Asian Cup thread the other day. Playing for an underage team in an official competition gives you that nationality. However, you can change only once before playing 3 competitive games (or 1 game at a FIFA or Continental finals tournament). It's the 'only once' thing that makes things a little complicated. Once they change from Italy (as they have already played underage competitive games for Italy), AND they play for Australia (at any level), then they cannot go back.

For example, Tyra Bagiante had played for Tonga by virtue of her mother, I think (yes, I'm a distant relative, I should know which side is Tongan, but I am not 100% sure). In 2024 she played for Tonga in the OFC U-16 Championships. She has since been selected and played for the Junior Matildas (with her change of association having been finalised earlier this year), and thus cannot change back to Tonga (or any other association).

Thanks Nic.
I dont see anything in the Statutes there that states only 1 of those exceptions needs to apply. I read the 5 as being inclusive, not "and/or".

And yes, I totally agree that a Change of Association is once only, if the person plays any games at all for their new Association. That's why Triantis can now never reverse his change to Greece. Exactly as applies to your relative and her change from Tonga.

 

[NicCarBel]

Thanks Nic.
I dont see anything in the Statutes there that states only 1 of those exceptions needs to apply. I read the 5 as being inclusive, not "and/or".

And yes, I totally agree that a Change of Association is once only, if the person plays any games at all for their new Association. That's why Triantis can now never reverse his change to Greece. Exactly as applies to your relative and her change from Tonga.

Based off the above - what I' mean is that the 'and' being used to say "all these conditions apply" within each breakdown, and now between all of them. If that makes sense? I'm probably being a bit confusing, but that's how these kinds of legal documents tend to work.

 

[jrvkfootball]

James. Thank you very much for your input to this Forum. I do have one question re the first dot point of your answer regarding Volpato and Arena, above:

Arena and Volpato have represented Italy in Official Competition at Youth level. They have not yet represented Italy in Official Competition at Senior National Team level.

They are presently tied to Italy. My understanding of the FIFA Rules is that they can now request a Change of Association to Australia. They do not need to meet the 5 exceptions.

My further understanding is that the 5 exceptions apply to a player who wishes to Change Association after he/she has already represented their present MA in an Official Competition at Senior National Team level. And that all 5 exceptions need to apply, not just 1 of them.

I would really appreciate it if you could clarify, please.

I have attached a screenshot of a decision tree I prepared a little while ago when I was attempting to set out my understanding of the relevant Change of Association Rules in response to questions/comments by various members on this Forum. If that decision tree is, in fact, still accurate, perhaps it can help others to understand the requirements better than merely reading through the FIFA wording in the Commentary document.

Hi Bruce Ramsay

Article 6 paragraph 3 states that participation for an football association in an official competition in any category (e.g. "A" or youth) and in any type of football (e.g. football, futsal, or beach soccer) ties the player to that football association unless they meet one of the exceptions in Article 10.



There are 5 specific exceptions in Article 10 covering common scenarios.

Scenario 1: where a player was fielded in an official competition (except "A" level) and held the nationality of their potential new association at the time they were first fielded by their current association (prior to 2020 this was the only exception)

Scenario 2: where a player was fielded in an official competition (except "A" level) and they did not hold the nationality of their potential new association at the time they were first fielded by their current association (in this case there are 2 criteria that must be met)

Scenario 3: where a player was fielded in an official competition at "A" level (in this case there are 5 criteria that must be met)

Scenario 4: where a player wants to represent a new football association admitted to FIFA membership but the player has already represented another association in an official competition (in this case there are 3 criteria that must be met)

Scenario 5: where a player was fielded in an official competition at "A" level and they permanently lose their nationality without consent / against their will due to a decision by a government authority (in this case there is 1 criterion that must be met - in addition to proving that you lost your nationality without consent / due to government decision)

These scenarios are in the graphic which NicCarBel helpfully pasted in his message above.