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Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: martinjt Date: 25-05-2007, 01:50	Assuming Greenland gets a FIFA-approved artificial playing surface, and as they have the same political status as the Faroe Islands, then that would appear to be the case. However, as Gibraltar was rejected recently, does that mean Greenland would be too?

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: mauro Date: 25-05-2007, 06:59 Edited by: mauro at: 25-05-2007, 07:01	Faroe Islands had always their own doemstic league and for this reason they have also a national team, like Scotland or Wales. Gibraltar and Greenland don't have any own leagues so they will be rejected to have a national team...

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: MTC Date: 25-05-2007, 07:36	Greenland and Gibraltar do have leagues: Greenland League 2006 Gibraltar League 2006-07 There is also no reason an area without a league cannot join FIFA/UEFA, Liechtenstein for example.

Author: blue_shark
Date: 25-05-2007, 08:38

the main problem about greenland joining fifa is that for now international matches have to be played on natural grass, not turf.
considering that matches would have to be played in november and february as well it would make it difficult to play on grass rather than on snow. the problem is that the grass can't make it threw the winter even on the west coast where the climate is much warmer than you would expect.
about joining uefa, i have to say some things. uefa would probably refuse greenland, because of the distance. nuuk, the capital is on the west coast, a few miles from the american continent. i think it would be wiser to get greenland into concacaf.
about the political status. greenland has the same status as feroe islands, i would say even more evolved. both of them are danish colonies, but none of them are members of the EU, since they retired (greenland in 1985).
so, greenland can join fifa only if they can find the founds to build an indoor field and a way to keep the grass alive during winter. or just the second. i know a lot about greenland and i can tell you i don't see it coming soon, since people there like sports, but they are not fanatic. about anything.

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: cambiasso Date: 25-05-2007, 11:31	They are pretty fanatic about alcohol! :-)

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: Bridges Date: 25-05-2007, 14:21	International matches can be played on artificial turf, and there have been too. My county, Norwy have been consedering Artificial turf on the national team stadium, hope they continue with natural grass tho. But anyway, point was that Greenland dont need to grow natural grass to be allowed in these assosiations.

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: eoinh Date: 25-05-2007, 15:05	Apparently Greenland are in FIFAs bad books at the moment as their national team recently played Tibet which is a big no no as far as trying to gain access to FIFA is concerned. I believe they might also have played North Cyprus. Geographically they could also join Concacaf I assume?

Author: spoonman
Date: 25-05-2007, 15:42
Edited by: spoonman
at: 25-05-2007, 15:52

Interestingly, Greenland's handball federation is a member of the Pan-American confederation and thus qualified for the World championships twice in recent years. Okay, they only reached 22nd place (out of 24) this year - but nevertheless, they were able to compete on the highest international level which would of course have been totally impossible if they were a member of the European federation (EHF).

I know you can't really compare the handball situation with football because in football, the (North-)American continent is much stronger than in handball but wouldn't it be better for Greenland's football team if they could play their qualifiers against Canada, the US or even Caribbean islands (Jamaica vs. Greenland, what a great contrast!

) instead of being thrashed by England, Spain or Russia? On the other hand: Greenland's fans might be more inclined to watch their team play against their "motherland" Denmark and other nordic or even baltic teams.

In principle, I'm not against Greenland joining UEFA but this would be another point to prove my thesis that we badly need a preliminary round in World Cup and Euro qualifying. Let's take the 12 or 16 lowest-ranked nations, put them into regional groups of four and let them play against each other home and away. The winner of each group (plus maybe the best runner-up) would advance to the main qualifying round. This way, they'd really have something to play for.

Author: Bridges
Date: 25-05-2007, 15:58

Its 6 years since Greenland played Tibet. It was Tibets first match an China did all they could to stop that match from beeing held in Cobenhagen, Denmark. Well they played in the same tournment ELF cup last year, but bouth went out in group play and did not met as far I know anyway. I dont think that match should have much to say if they will apply for a fifa memberchip. But I doubt Greenland realy have any big plan to apply for a memberchip yet anyway.

Author: Michele
Date: 26-05-2007, 01:17

That game against tibet was played only 2 km's from where I live now and of course I watched it, actually rooting for Tibet instead of my "compatriots". Greenland started slowly and conceded the first goal, but in the 2nd half, they showed their superiority and won 4-1. The level of football would probably suit the 5th league in Denmark, so I don't expect Greenland to send shockwaves through international football, should the wish to and be allowed to play.

Concerning handball, I recently read that greenland has been relegated to associate member of the Pan-American handball federation and is therefore no longer allowed to play qualifiers for the big tournaments. No explanation was made, but it is generally believed that The US pushed for the move because they have now twice in a row been denied a place in the WC because of Greenland

I doubt we'll see that in football anytime soon, but one can always hope

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: moro Date: 26-05-2007, 09:31	How 'bout Greenland vs Dreamland (M Jackson) in UCQR1?

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: martinjt Date: 26-05-2007, 18:33	Greenland is equally distant from the countries in UEFA and those in CONCACAF. Therefore it should be better to be a member of CONCACAF as the standard's lower, and there are less games. I believe world cup qualifiers for CONCACAF are on a knock out system in the early rounds, whereas in UEFA it's a minimum of 10 group games.

Author: badgerboy
Date: 27-05-2007, 14:34

UEFA Statutes:

"Article 5

(1)Membership of UEFA is open to national football associations situated in the continent of Europe, based in a country which is recognised by the United Nations as an independent state, and which are responsible for the organisation and implementation of football-related matters in the territory of their country

(2)In exceptional circumstances, a national football association that is situated in another continent may be admitted to membership, provided that it is not a member of the Confederation of that continent, or of any other Confederation and that FIFA approves its membership of UEFA".

The membership of the "home nations" & the Faroe Islands is dealt with by the "Exceptional Provisions" of Article 69 (1):

"Art. 5 does not apply to the following member associations: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Wales, Faroe Islands".

I would tentatively suggest that the fact that these "Exceptional Provisions" are applied to "named members" rather than "national football associations already members at x date" allows for at least the possibility of Greenland, Gibraltar etc. to be added later.

Completely off the subject but one mildly amusing aspect I came across when whizzing through the UEFA Statutes:

Article 4(3): "Official documents and official records of UEFA shall be published in English, French and German. In the event of any discrepancy, the English version will be authoritative, subject to Art. 68 of these statutes".

Article 68: "In the event of any discrepancy in interpretation between the official languages of UEFA in the wording of these Statutes, the German version shall be authoritative"

So for everything else - English but for the statutes themselves - German! Unless presumably the German version of the Statutes says differently?

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: cska Date: 28-05-2007, 10:48	Few years ago, a Bulgarian prime-minister talked about "Europe from Vancouver to Vladivostok..." If Greenland gets UEFA membership and if Luch-Energia at last qualifies for European cups, then we can have this "dream" to come true. Imagine a game Eskimo (Nuuk) - Luch-Energia (Vladivostok). The travel costs and the time to travel, and also, the hour difference will be really enormous.

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: Overgame Date: 28-05-2007, 10:57	Greenland is not that far from Vladivostok. Don't forget that you don't need to pass by Paris, you can go via Los Angeles

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: bert.kassies Date: 28-05-2007, 11:05	I would recommend a polar flight with a distance comparable to e.g. Lisbon - Baku.

Author: apw
Date: 28-05-2007, 11:14

My initial reaction is to include Greenland within Concacaf, however after reading this latest ruling from fifa (see link ), i wonder how this would affect players from say Jamaica or Greenland if they were to play a 2 leg qualifier ?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6697159.stm

With regard to the above, this definitely looks like an attempt by Fifa to protect the Big nations in South America, the only games in which the big 2 have struggled is in places like La Paz, maybe this ruling may even help Uruguay get some world status back !

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: seso Date: 28-05-2007, 12:52	You can read a quite funny thread on this topic from some years ago. http://www.kassiesa.net/uefa//forum/view.php?archive=2005.Q2&topic=20050606111234 .xml

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: Kaiser Date: 28-05-2007, 13:54	cska wrote: Imagine a game Eskimo (Nuuk) - Luch-Energia (Vladivostok). The travel costs and the time to travel, and also, the hour difference will be really enormous. It would be easier to travel cross-America than via all oceans and Eurasia. Nice American match!

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: abzpablo Date: 28-05-2007, 17:45	Why are there no other top level Russian teams anywhere between the extremity that is Luch Vladivostok and European Russia? Surely there must be some football life in that region somewhere?

Author: Kaiser
Date: 28-05-2007, 17:51

Why are there no other top level Russian teams anywhere between the extremity that is Luch Vladivostok and European Russia?

Surely there must be some football life in that region somewhere?

Russia is a giant country, right? Many kinds of people live there. And distant places aren't advanced enough due climate and other factors (In Siberia remote people don't know about mobiles

) But Far-East is good enough to make decent teams.

Clear?

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: badgerboy Date: 28-05-2007, 18:00	"Why are there no other top level Russian teams anywhere between the extremity that is Luch Vladivostok and European Russia?" Surprisingly for a Russian Kaiser doesn't correct you but actually there is apparently one other "Asian" team in the Russian Premier League - Tom Tomsk. That's if you believe the Wiki anyway. They name Amkar Perm as the easternmost top flight club in Europe.

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: Kaiser Date: 28-05-2007, 18:04	We discussed Luch, badger, not any Toms or Amkars

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: badgerboy Date: 28-05-2007, 18:08	But someone asked why there aren't any top level teams between European Russia & Vladivostock. There are.

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: Kaiser Date: 28-05-2007, 18:16	Nice picture to prove my reply. badgerboy I agree with you that there's not only one non-European teams in Russia. But the main scene is still centred in the west. In fact, I don't even imagine the real life in Siberia and Far-East. This beyond is very far.

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: martinjt Date: 28-05-2007, 22:57	'My initial reaction is to include Greenland within Concacaf, however after reading this latest ruling from fifa (see link ), i wonder how this would affect players from say Jamaica or Greenland if they were to play a 2 leg qualifier ? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6697159.stm' I guess that rules out Tibet from ever staging football matches!

Author: badgerboy
Date: 28-05-2007, 23:34

Martinjt

Very controversial ruling for a number of South American countries - particularly Bolivia - but also Ecuador & Colombia. No international matches in La Paz, Quito or Bogota any more.

Apparently the likely alternatives in both Ecuador & Colombia are hot & humid as hell - arguably just as risky to the health of players - if not more so. I'm not sure what the situation is in Bolivia - I think lot of the main cities are at high altitude.

I blame the Peruvians for trying to take advantage of the "altitude advantage" by moving their own games from Lima to Cuzco. Now all the "high countries" have to suffer.

Author: martinjt
Date: 29-05-2007, 01:31

10 highest cities in the world:

1. Lhasa, Tibet, China 12,002 3658

2. La Paz, Bolivia 11,910 3630

3. Cuzco, Peru 11,152 3399

4. Sucre, Bolivia 9,331 2844

5. Quito, Ecuador 9,249 2819

6. Toluca, Mexico 8,793 2680

7. Bogota, Colombia 8,675 2644

8. Cochabamba, Bolivia 8,390 2557

9. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 7,900 2408

10. Asmara, Eritrea 7,789 2374

Addis Ababa just squeezes in, but Cochabamba doesn't. It's a bit tough on Bolivia!

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: dinamo_fan_4_ever Date: 29-05-2007, 09:07	greenland and iceland hots of euro. that would be nice. )))))))))))) not to mention they would be directly qualified.

Re: Can Greenland join FIFA/UEFA?
Author: conscious Date: 29-05-2007, 23:09 Edited by: conscious at: 29-05-2007, 23:19	Wow, my map was linked from here! Answering abzpablo's question: 73% of Russian population live in the European part. So 3 teams (Amkar, Tom, Luch) out of 16 is quite proportional representation (one from each of Urals, Siberia, and Far East).