Football (Soccer) Thread

[Admiral Yi]

There are pretty strict rules in football regarding nationality. You can't just fake a nationality and play for whatever team you like.

I'm not talking about fraud; I'm talking about those "my grandfather was born there" deals.

[Admiral Yi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYv2ocekZLw

Class shot (blocked) at 17 seconds of clip by Brazil.

[Admiral Yi]

Platini detained on corruption suspicions.

[Josephus]

I didn't realize the goalie only had to keep one foot.  I might agree then about the shoddy call.

It's one of five or six new rules being used in this WC that will be implemented in leagues starting next season. A few others off the top of my head: In a direct free kick, attacking players are no longer allowed to be in the defensive wall. During a substitution, outgoing players do not have to walk to the middle of the field to be substituted

[Duque de Bragança]

There are pretty strict rules in football regarding nationality. You can't just fake a nationality and play for whatever team you like.

I'm not talking about fraud; I'm talking about those "my grandfather was born there" deals.

Actually, you can. In youth teams that is. 
Lots of bi-nationals when they cannot play in the country they live suddenly rediscover their heritage.

[Duque de Bragança]

Platini detained on corruption suspicions.

I am shocked, shocked to find corruption is going on at FIFA!

[Grey Fox]

I wonder if the white Jamaican chicks are real Jamaicans or fake Jamaicans.

Let's see :

Sydney Schneider ; Goalkeeper, 19. Born in New Jersey. She qualifies to play soccer for 3 countries: US(birthplace), Germany(dad's birthplace) & Jamaica(maternal grandparents birthplace).

Havana Solaun ; Midfielder, 26. Born in Hong Kong. She qualifies to play for 4 countries : Hong Kong(birthplace), US(Dad), Cuba(Dad) & Jamaica(mom).

Lauren Fielder ; Midfielder, 26, Born in the US, She qualifies to play for 2 countries : US(birthplace), Jamaica(maternal grandfather).

[dps]

How does her dad qualify her to play for both Cuba and the US?

[Syt]

Hell, we had brothers Kevin Prince Boateng and Jerome Boateng playing for different countries (Ghana and Germany, respectively)

[Grey Fox]

How does her dad qualify her to play for both Cuba and the US?

He's apparently from there, got American citizenship after the emigrating. I'm guessing she would also qualify for Cuba based on a paternal grandparents if her dad didn't qualify her.

It happens all the time for Canada's men team. Our best player, Alphonso Davies is from a Liberian refugee camp in Ghana. Altho, he did grow up in Edmonton.
Or our Captain, Scott Arfield. Dude's Scottish. I don't think he's ever been to Canada without also being there for a National team match.

[Duque de Bragança]

How does her dad qualify her to play for both Cuba and the US?

Miami? 

[Josquius]

There was once a time where Ireland was known as the England reserve team due to the amount of people qualifying via grandparents.

It's pretty interesting stuff really, the rules are really drawn from another era where a Frenchman was a Frenchman was a Frenchman, but these days with the increase in mixed race people, migration, etc.... things are quite messed up.
There's been a few interesting stories of countries battling each other for the services of promising youngsters.

[Admiral Yi]

So all fake Jamaicans.

[Barrister]

A lot of lower-ranked hockey federations wind up using mostly Canadians with some sort of tie to their country.

[Duque de Bragança]

More Copa América fun!

Brazil tied 0-0 with Venezuela!
Argentina 1-1 with Paraguay.

So the first place is no longer guaranteed for Brazil, and Argentina could be out in the group phase, unless they win against... Qatar!  Messi scored a penalty, before you ask. Qatar lost his second game but did a good impression on his first, a tie with Paraguay.