FIFA Two
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The FIFA Two refers to Colin Healy and Gareth Farrelly, two Irish international football players who were prevented from playing for Cork City as they had already played for two other clubs in the 2006-07 period. Some commentators noted a potential conflict between FIFA's ruling and European Union regulations prohibiting restrictions on a citizen’s right to work. After lobbying from Ireland's football governing body, the Football Association of Ireland, FIFA subsequently changed its transfer regulations in January 2008.
The FIFA Two refers to Colin Healy and Gareth Farrelly, two Irish international football players who were prevented from playing for Cork City as they had already played for two other clubs in the 2006-07 period. Some commentators noted a potential conflict between FIFA's ruling and European Union regulations prohibiting restrictions on a citizen’s right to work. After lobbying from Ireland's football governing body, the Football Association of Ireland, FIFA subsequently changed its transfer regulations in January 2008.
Related precedents
The Finnish Football Association, an association that also has its season within a calendar year, similar to Ireland, permits any player who signs for a Finnish club, and in the same situation as Colin Healy or Gareth Farrelly, to play in official matches in Finland. According to a 2007 ESPN article, the Finnish FA allowed players in similar situations to Healy and Farrelly to play, a move the article characterised as disregarding FIFA's rule. A number of sources compared the situation, with Healy and Farrelly, to the case of Javier Mascherano, an Argentine international who joined Liverpool after playing for West Ham United and Corinthians within the preceding five months. Several players with other League of Ireland sides were also impacted by Article 5.3, but were subsequently cleared to play. One of these players was Shaun Holmes who, after an appeal, was given leave to play for Finn Harps in 2007.
Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362986076 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.