Cascarino was eligible, say Irish

The Football Association of Ireland yesterday insisted they are satisfied that former striker Tony Cascarino was always eligible to become a citizen of the Republic of Ireland and therefore eligible to play for his country.

Cascarino, who won 88 caps for Ireland and was part of their World Cup squads in 1990 and 1994, has revealed in a book that he believes he was ineligible to play for the Irish team. He said he made the discovery late in his international career.

The former Celtic player comes from south-east England but was first selected for Ireland in the Eighties, qualifying on the grounds that his grandfather was Irish.

Cascarino said that his mother revealed to him only in 1996 that she was adopted, and his Irish ‘grandfather’ was not her natural father and so not a blood relative of the player.

By that stage Cascarino’s application for an Irish passport was about to be completed and he decided to keep quiet about the fact he had no real Irish roots. He went on to win a further 24 caps.

The FAI says it has consulted its own files and those of the Irish Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs. "The conclusions are that if the appropriate paperwork had been compiled when Cascarino was first capped in 1985, Tony would have been granted a passport.

"There is no evidence on record that Tony was ever refused a permanent Irish passport. The player did seek a passport in 1996 and this was granted.

"The FAI are satisfied that Tony Cascarino was always eligible to become a citizen of the Republic of Ireland and was, therefore, always eligible to play for Ireland."

FIFA has already dismissed the matter and with the FAI having taken stringent steps to regularise any similar situations in 1996, it would appear that the matter is now closed.

Arsenal will not face disciplinary action from UEFA if they field a weakened team in their final Champions League game next week.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger claims he has agreed with Lazio coach - and England’s new manager - Sven Goran Eriksson to rest several key players as both sides have already qualified for the second phase.

Shakhtar Donetsk and Sparta Prague, who are battling for third spot in the group and a UEFA Cup place, may not agree, but UEFA claims it has no problem with Arsenal and Lazio’s decision.

A UEFA official said: "Each team has submitted a list of 25 players, and after that it is up to each coach to decide which players he wants to field."