BILLY STARK has backed moves by SFA chief executive Gordon Smith to allow immigrants and asylum seekers to play for Scotland.
Smith has secured the agreement of his counterparts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for an amendment to the current eligibility rules the four home nations have in place.
If Fifa approval is granted, immigrants who have spent at least five
years being educated in UK schools would be able to represent the constituent country in which they have become resident.
In practice, it could allow Scotland national youth teams coach Stark to consider players such as highly regarded 14-year-old Celtic striker Islam Feruz for selection.
Feruz fled Somalia with his family several years ago and, helped by the late Celtic coach Tommy Burns, avoided deportation back to his war-torn homeland.
"We are not trying to take advantage of anything," said Stark. "But with asylum seekers, for example, who come to this country when they are just one year old and are brought up in Scotland, then I think it is a difficult argument to try and say they are not Scots when they get to their teens.
"So I am in full agreement with it. It is something we should embrace and go forward from there.
"I don't think we should ever forsake the bloodline stance we have when it comes to mature players. The talk this season of Nacho Novo maybe becoming eligible to play for Scotland was a case in point. I think that would be making a mockery of it.
"But if it is someone who comes here at a young age, is schooled and brought up here, I think it is a different case which is worth pursuing."
Stark concedes changes to eligibility rules are "a bit of a minefield" and is conscious of the need to retain the distinctive nature of international football.
"We have to go beyond the old traditionalists' view now," he said, "but I don't think anyone could accuse us of trying to work the system. The Republic of Ireland earned a reputation for that, when people joked that all you needed to do was drink a pint of Guinness to be eligible, and it got them a bit of success.
"Personally, I'm not one to go looking for every loophole just to be successful. To me, the national team should always be just that, your national team. That's what sets it apart, particularly now when club football has become so global.
"You look at Arsenal in England and Hearts up here as examples of that. It has happened at the Old Firm in the past as well, when it's been a case of 'spot the Scot'. Clubs lose their identity a wee bit in the eyes of the fans when they do that.
"So international football should be just that, about playing for YOUR country. But I think it is quite proper to look at the schooling aspect Gordon Smith is talking about. The agreement of the other three home nations probably backs that up."
Smith's proposed change would also open the door for Hearts winger Andrew Driver, currently in the England squad for the forthcoming European under-21 Championship finals in Sweden, to switch his allegiance to Scotland if he wished.
An existing Fifa rule, amended at their annual congress earlier this month, has removed the previous age limit of 21 for players to change countries as long as they have not yet made a full international appearance for anyone. Driver was born in England but has lived in Scotland since he was 11.
"Andrew was the obvious example," said Stark. "Before he got into their under-21 squad, England had not done anything with him when he was flourishing up here. He is one Scotland would certainly look at.
"There is another young English-born lad playing in Scotland just now who would come into that category. I don't think it would be fair to name the boy at this stage but he would certainly be a contender for my youth squads under the proposed new rule."
The full article contains 691 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
