Ineligible Internationals

Nationality tends to be a fluid thing in football these days, with almost every major national competition featuring a Brazilian or two, but today we're looking at some examples that overstepped the mark; players who appeared on the international stage when they just plain shouldn't have.

Before we do though, an important note: A lot of people would consider Tony Cascarino to be the most famous example, after all he claimed in his 2000 autobiography that he had no right to play for Ireland due to the fact his mother was adopted, and so his Irish grandfather was not a blood relation. 

 

What's often missed is that later that same year, the Irish FA confirmed that he actually was eligible, as adopted relatives still count when applying for nationality from the Emerald Isle.

 

And with that squared away, let's get on with the rest!

Deklan Wynne

Team: New Zealand

Appearances: 15

South-African-born Deklan Wynne inadvertently caused his adopted nation of New Zealand to be thrown out of qualifying for the 2016 Olympics, after it was found that the defender did not satisfy any of the relevant criteria for assuming a new footballing nationality, having no relatives of New Zealand descent, nor satisfying the residency requirements: Wynne moved to the country as a child, but left to ply his trade in the states at age eighteen, and the rules require five years of residency in an adopted country after reaching adulthood.

In a generous twist, FIFA later granted an exemption to allow Wynne to continue to represent the country going forward. While he missed his own chance to play at the Olympics, the "Olly Whites" returned successfully for the 2020 tournament. 

 

Charly Moussono

Team: Gabon

Appearances: 12

The beach is a great place to relax and soak up some rays but as anyone who has ever accidentally stepped on a jellyfish can attest, it's can also be the source of painful memories. Charly Moussono knows that all too well; having made ten international appearances for Gabon his international career was called to an abrupt halt in 2012 because six years earlier he'd represented Cameroon at the Beach Soccer World Cup, even participating in a 5-2 loss to the Solomon Islands in that very tournament.

 

While this presumably meant he was eligible for Cameroon, the Indomitable Lions sadly never called on the bucket & spade wielding centre back. In happier news, he appears to have continued his club career for at least a few more years, although up-to-date info is hard to come by.

 

Herve Xavier Zengue

Team: Burkina Faso

Appearances: 7

The institution of matrimony can bring many benefits, but unfortunately for the Cameronian defender Herve Zengue the opportunity to represent your spouses nation in football is not one of them.

The man commonly known as just "Xavier" had a Burkinabe wife, and thus a passport from the country, but that in itself was not enough, and his appearances for Les Étalons drew complaints from defeated opponents Namibia. The results of the games were overturned, Burkina Faso were fined and the player in question was no longer allowed to appear for his wife's homeland.

Tyrone Mears

Team: Jamaica

Appearances: 1

One-time Manchester City man Mears made many moves searching for soccer stardom in a club he could call home, and the same was true of the international scene as the former England youth player who had played at all levels from U16 to U21 sought out a whole new country at the age of 28 by accepting a call up to the Reggae Boyz, on the grounds of a Jamaican father. 

 

He subsequently turned out in a friendly against Nigeria and declared himself thrilled to represent the country on behalf of his Dad.

 

Unfortunately for Mears his father was actually from Sierra Leone. Which is not Jamaica. 

 

While this put an end to his internationally career, his club playing days continued for a further ten years, during which time he also undertook studies in Counter-Terrorism at Southern New Hampshire University.

 

When combined with his ability to assume another nationality, Mears could be a real asset to the intelligence community!

Daddy Birori

Team: Rwanda

Appearances: 19

 

Way back when, in the year of 2009, when we could all safely eat as many bat sandwiches as we liked (none for me, thanks) a 19 year old Congolese man named Etekiama Agiti Tady turned out for Rwandan league champions ATRACO F.C in the CAF Champions League.

That same year, 23 year old Daddy Bironi made his debut for his home country of Rwanda. 

The only problem? Bironi and Tady were the same person using two different passports, with two different dates of birth and two different nationalities. Which one (if any) was real is unclear, but it lead to a two year suspension for the player.

Presumably one for each passport he used?