Sunday, March 09, 2008
Brits play for Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands called up eight British players in late February 2000.
The Caymans, as a British dependent territory, believed Fifa rules would allow them to call up players with a British passport, so long as they hadn't already been capped for another country.
All but one of the eight players represented the Caymans in a friendly against US champions DC United, and were duly thrashed 5-0.
At this point, however, Fifa intervened, ruling that such players were not actually allowed to represent the Caymans unless they were Cayman- born nationals, five-year residents in the territory, or at least had links to the country through marriage or descendency.
The Caymans, as a British dependent territory, believed Fifa rules would allow them to call up players with a British passport, so long as they hadn't already been capped for another country.
All but one of the eight players represented the Caymans in a friendly against US champions DC United, and were duly thrashed 5-0.
At this point, however, Fifa intervened, ruling that such players were not actually allowed to represent the Caymans unless they were Cayman- born nationals, five-year residents in the territory, or at least had links to the country through marriage or descendency.
