Fifa has sent a letter to the football associations of the Republic of Ireland (FAI) and Northern Ireland (IFA) suggesting that players from either side of the border should have free choice about who they play for.

The proposal was formulated by Fifa's legal committee in response to a long-running argument between the two bodies over the selection of international players.
   
Currently, players born in Northern Ireland are generally eligible to turn out for the Republic of Ireland providing they have not yet played a competitive match for Northern Ireland  but the same does not apply in reverse.
   
Under the new suggestion put forward by world soccer's governing body, players born in the Republic of Ireland and holding Irish nationality could choose to play for Northern Ireland.
   
Fifa said today it had sent the proposal to the two associations and asked for their feedback.
   
It added that any final decision on the matter would have to be approved by Fifa's executive committee.
   
A Fifa spokesman said that no deadline had yet been set for that decision.

Tonight the FAI issued their own statement on the matter. "The Association is pleased that Fifa have once again upheld the principle that players born in Northern Ireland should be free to choose whether they wish to play for the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland."

"The FAI will now meet with its legal advisors to review in detail the proposals contained in the Fifa letter before formulating a response."