Football in Ireland

The football is in nongaelic Ireland most popular of the sports. In spite of a followed local championship little and of low level, Irish is very fond of delicacies of matches of football. Their interest refers on the English championship where all the best Irish players play.

The Irish clubs did not have any outstanding influence in European football. They are limited to a formative role for the Irish footballers before their departure for England or Scotland.

Organization

Football in Ireland is managed by the FAI (Football Association off Ireland) for the southern. It gathers the clubs of Football of the Irish Republic and organizes national competitions and the international matches of the selection of Ireland.

It is affiliated with FIFA since 1923 and is member of UEFA since its creation in 1954.

The federation organizes the competitions. At the national level, the first two levels are the First League and the second division called also First Division. Then one finds competitions regional organized by provinces.

Within sight of the prize lists, the principal teams are, them and.

During the season 2006-2007, 156 Irish players played in the various professional championships of England and Scotland. This enormous figure represents the equivalent of 14 teams, that is to say more than the national championship.

History

Officially football arrived to Ireland in 1878 with the behavior of a match exhibition at Belfast between two Scottish teams. However this sport seems to have taken its first steps on the island as of the years 1860. Clubs in Ulster played there of the matches against the fishermen Scot during the stopovers. Its organization began with creation in 1880 of the Irishwoman Federation of Football (Irish Football Association - IFA). The first official competition Irish Cup began as of 1881. The sport was spread quickly in all the island and gained Dublin years 1890. A championship of Ireland was then organized. Professionalism was legalized in 1894.

Female football in Ireland

The female football in Ireland is placed under the aegis of the WFAI (the Irish federation of female football) which is a specific branch of the Fédération of Ireland of football.

The Women' S Football Association off Ireland exists since 1973; it summer placed under the supervision of the FAI in 1990

In 2005, 6500 players were laid off in Ireland, were gathered in 350 clubs divided into 21 regional leagues.

There does not exist national championship. The 21 leagues have each one their clean championship. The most important league (with the best players and the best media exposure) is that of the capital Dublin.

Stages

The principal football stadium in Ireland east Lansdowne Road. All it the matches of the national team are played. During the rebuilding of the stage, the matches take place with Croke Park.

The other football stadiums are much smaller (5 000 places maximum): Dolymount Park with Dublin.

National teams

The team of the Irish Republic of football is consisted a selection of the best Irish players under the aegis of the Fédération of Ireland of football. The Irish Republic (Eire) always made good figure in the rare final stages of World cups in which it took part. It thus finished unconquered in 2002, eliminated with the shootings with the goal in eighth of finale by the Spain.

But it is in 1990 at the time of the World cup in Italy that it carried out its best performance: matches null against the England and the Netherlands with the first turn, elimination of the Romania in eighth and short defeat 1-0 against the organizing country in quarterfinal. The Irish Republic is then involved by English Jack Charlton.

The team of Ireland of female football is in the first world division, convergent thus for a participation in the World cup. She plays Dublin in the stage of Richmond Park.

Principal players

Individual records

chiffres at November 15th, 2006