Breaking the Law: why Fifa should relax its eligibility rules | Scott Murray

The latest in our series suggesting revolutionary ways to improve sport focuses on allowing players qualifying for more than one country to switch allegiances after they’ve declared. And then back again, if they so wish

A lot of pressure is on Jack Grealish right now. The Solihull-born Aston Villa midfielder has represented Republic of Ireland at various levels in youth football, the granny rule in full effect, but having yet to turn out for the full team in a big match, is still free to declare for England. And so he’s opted to have a wee think about it. Good luck with that, then, young man. For you’ll be getting it in the neck from someone, somewhere, whatever you decide. What a business is football.

It’s often argued that Fifa needs to tighten up its eligibility rules, so that after a player has represented a country once, at any age group or level, whether in a friendly or competitive fixture, their decision remains binding for ever. To be fair, that would probably clear up most of the grey areas, and lay waste to a large number of unnecessary arguments.

Related: Would Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish pass the Roy Keane Ireland test? | Daniel Taylor

Related: Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj opts to represent Belgium

Related: Players who have been capped by more than one country

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