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1 SECOND AND FERUZ WAS OURS.


Byline: Anthony Haggerty

ROSS MATHIE last night revealed it took Islam Feruz less than a second to pledge his international future to Scotland.

The 14-year-old Celtic striker, who was born in Somalia, is the first player called up by Scotland under FIFA's new eligibility rules eligibility rules,
n.pl the conditions that define who may be entitled to dental benefits, when persons first become entitled to such benefits, and any provisions that determine how long an individual remains entitled to benefits.
.

Feruz, whose family moved to Glasgow seven years ago, will join the under-17 squad for next week's Euro Championship qualifiers against Cyprus, Georgia and Portugal.

Coach Mathie said: "I visited Islam and asked if he wanted to play for Scotland.

"I told him he had time to think about it but I'd barely got the words out when he said 'yes'.

"The entire process took less than a second.

"Islam feels Scottish and this is massive for him. He has great ability, pace to burn and an eye for goal.

Spotted "Clubs pay loads of money for those qualities and it would have been remiss of me had I not used the new FIFA FIFA International Association Football Federation [French Fédération Internationale de Football Association]

FIFA n abbr (= Fédération Internationale de Football Association) → FIFA f 
 rules."

Mathie first spotted Feruz six years ago and was anxious for SFA See sales force automation.

SFA - Sales Force Automation
 chief Gordon Smith
For other people by this name see Gordon Smith (disambiguation)


Gordon Harold Smith (born May 25, 1952) is Oregon's junior United States Senator, currently serving his second term. He is a member of the Republican Party.
 to push through the new rule.

He said: "The groundwork has been going on for months because we knew the rule had a great chance of being passed.

"We didn't pounce overnight. A lot of work was done by Celtic, especially their head of youth Chris McCart, the SFA, Hillhead High and Islam's family.

"I first saw him play six years ago and said 'Wow, who is he?' "He just glided past players and put the ball in the net so all credit to Gordon for coming up with this rule and FIFA for accepting it.

"There will be opposition to it but the rule is in place and, like the laws of the game The Laws of the Game (also known as the Laws of Football) are the rules governing a game of association football (soccer). Current Laws of the Game
The current Laws of the Game consists of 17 individual laws:
  • Law 1: The Field of Play
, is there to be used.

"I would not be doing my job if I did not look at lads such as Islam because they can play for us now.

"The boy will attract a huge amount of publicity because it is a great story but he is only 14 and we have to protect him.

"His case is different from Andrew Driver's because Andrew has already represented England.

"Islam's case is based purely on the fact he has stayed in this country for more than five years and has a British passport.

"People should realise he is in the squad on ability alone.

"Remember, too, he feels Scottish and acts Scottish.

"He is a well mannered young man and we are delighted he has chosen us.

"Scotland is a multicultural society and as a footballing nation we have started to embrace that.

"All the boy wants to do is play football and he does it with a smile.

"I have no doubt Islam will be accepted with open arms in the dressing room and by the Scottish public."

CAPTION(S):

QUICK THINKER: Mathie
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Article Details
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Title Annotation:Sport
Publication:Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland)
Geographic Code:4EUUK
Date:Oct 15, 2009
Words:473
Previous Article:Somalia: Don't turn your back on us yet.
Next Article:DUTCH GIANTS BACK EURO LEAGUE; Feyenoord and PSV want Old Firm talks.



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