Foreign born players playing for England.

[Edmund]

What's everyone views on this? I can't see the problem considering every nation seems to be doing this including Spain, Germany, Holland and France, the list is endless.

It seems the F.A have disapproved of it although Arteta has come out and said he'd seriously consider playing for England if the chance came along.

Fabio Capello will be discouraged from selecting Everton's Mikel Arteta by his employers at the Football Association.

The England manager has so far refused to rule out a move for Spaniard Arteta, 28, who was born in San Sebastian but is available to the national team on residency grounds.

FA officials are uncomfortable with the idea of selecting the Goodison midfielder and would certainly seek discussions with their Italian coach if he chose to explore the issue.

The FA would remind Capello of the stance he took over Arsenal's Spanish goalkeeper Manuel Almunia when he rejected the idea, and would stress the importance of developing homegrown talent.

Last weekend, Arteta said: 'That chance is not there yet. But if, one day, they come to me and say, "listen would you do that?" I would consider that. I have a lot of respect for everyone in this country and for everything they have done for me. At the moment it is not there, but if one day that chance comes I will have a look at it and see.'

[James.]

Regardless of the rules I think the FA should let Capello do what he thinks is the best thing for the England team and keep their snouts out of his trough.

However I also think that only people born in England should play for England but then I can't see the rules being changed any time soon. As such I wouldn't have a problem with Arteta playing for England, he is quality after all.

[Webbo]

No. I'm still uneasy about having a foreign manager. I know other countries do it but I think it's cheating.

[danielpholt]

I don't have a problem with it. France have built their squads of the last 10 years based on players that aren't even from the same continent, and Germany seems to have stripped Poland of all of their truly top class players over the past few years, so why should we be any different?

O yeah, we have a jonny foreigner complex.

[Fosse Boy]

It's happened in just about every country in every sport throughout history. As long they play with pride and passion for their adopted nation who cares?

[Webbo]

It's not like we haven't done this in the past. John Barnes only qualified on residency grounds. I still think it's cheating though.

[Guest Bilo]

I don't have a problem with it at all.

Look at Germany, half of their team come from non-German backgrounds and even with us, Hargreaves could have played for Canada, Germany or Wales instead of England if he'd felt like that. John Barnes was Jamaican and scored one of England's best ever goals in the Maracana.

[RowlattsFox]

I wouldn't have a problem if he'd been here since he was young, or had some kind of English relative but Arteta has nothing, just been living here for 5 years. I know everyone else is doing it but that doesn't make it right, I'd rather have English players playing for us even if they are shit.

Saying that though, if he was to play and scored the winner in a big game I probably wouldn't care,

[LCFC-ARAB]

I wouldn't have a problem if he'd been here since he was young, or had some kind of English relative but Arteta has nothing, just been living here for 5 years. I know everyone else is doing it but that doesn't make it right, I'd rather have English players playing for us even if they are shit.

Saying that though, if he was to play and scored the winner in a big game I probably wouldn't care,

I agree with that

But most people will be against it because they dont want bloody immigrants playing for England, ingurland ingurland ingurland!!

[Webbo]

I agree with that

But most people will be against it because they dont want bloody immigrants playing for England, ingurland ingurland ingurland!!

That's a bit of a silly response. I've nothing against non white players or white players of foreign decent playing for England. I just think the players should have some sort of connection to England otherwise they are just mercenaries.

It's also unfair to the countries that lose players to bigger countries. Surely you must appreciate that with France pinching half your team.

[Corky]

If Arteta is good enough (which he is) and really wanted to play for England then I wouldn't have a huge problem with it.

[Finnegan]

What Webbo said. If you want residency laws then it should be at least ten years imo. That way you allow lads who may have migrated young and nationalized but you avoid daft arteta-like scenarios.

[Samilktray]

No thankyou. Kinda defies the object of representing your country.

[Cat Burger]

I will be unhappy if we don't pursue this, sure we might maintain a kind of tragic integrity (which we've always had, we've never been cheaters) but it's really never gotten us anywhere. Currently, we have no one who could do a job like Arteta, he's 28, he'll have 4 good years left, in this time Wilshere will rise to prominence. I'm fed up of England fans, unhappy and ready to lynch the manager if we don't win, but not prepared to do what it takes, as ALL other teams do in order to do so.

[LCFC-ARAB]

That's a bit of a silly response. I've nothing against non white players or white players of foreign decent playing for England. I just think the players should have some sort of connection to England otherwise they are just mercenaries.

It's also unfair to the countries that lose players to bigger countries. Surely you must appreciate that with France pinching half your team.

My reply wasnt in response to anything you have said, i agree with what you and what RowlattsFox said about having a connection with England

But even that won't be good enough for some people

[purpleronnie]

The more 'foreign' players the better, might actually achieve something.

[Dickie Greenleaf]

Get him in. Good guy, good player.

Would rather see him repping us than that low-hairline, GBH, abortion paying for, scouser

[Jon the Hat]

What would be the point of international football then? You might as well can it and have Premiership All-stars vs LFP All-stars etc.

There is a big difference between growing up in a country from a young age (under 10 say), becoming a citizen and then representing your country as John Barnes did, and coming here as a professional footballer once you are an adult then deciding you can get some international football but switching allegiances. No thanks.

[Rocket-Ron]

If Arteta is good enough (which he is) and really wanted to play for England then I wouldn't have a huge problem with it.

Is He??

Terry Butcher was born in Singapore and he's as English as ffffffffffAnyone.

Still not sure about it though

[Leicester_Loyal]

Let them all play for us. They will be better than our current crop of players.

[Edmund]

What would be the point of international football then? You might as well can it and have Premiership All-stars vs LFP All-stars etc.

It's not as if it's a new revelation though. It's part and parcel of the International game.

It's not just limited to Europe, even teams like Chile or was it Paraguay had Argentinean born nationals playing in their team.

[Finnegan]

It's not as if it's a new revelation though. It's part and parcel of the International game.

It's not just limited to Europe, even teams like Chile or was it Paraguay had Argentinean born nationals playing in their team.

I've just never bought into the idea that just because everyone else is doing it you should. I don't even like having English born players with a Welsh granny in our side, to be honest (yes you, Andy King!)

But come on, Mikel Arteta? Isn't he a proud Basque national?!

[lildave3]

No, don't like it. Don't really want Arteta, as good as he is, playing for England.

[Guest Bilo]

I've just never bought into the idea that just because everyone else is doing it you should. I don't even like having English born players with a Welsh granny in our side, to be honest (yes you, Andy King!)

But come on, Mikel Arteta? Isn't he a proud Basque national?!

If you were colour blind and perhaps slightly backward the Basque flag could pass for a Union Jack.

[FoxyPV]

I'm not particularly fond of it even though Jack Charlton's 90's Irish team consisted of born and bred Irishmen like Andy Townsend...

Brings up questions of what makes you English etc