Arteta’s England dream at an end

Any chance of Fabio Capello calling up Mikel Arteta for England look increasingly unlikely to be pursed after it emerged that he may be ineligible.

Arteta, who is Spanish, was thought to have been able to represent England due to five years of residence as an Everton player and not representing Spain at full national level.

Article 18.1a states that if you play at any level internationally you have to hold the passport of the country you would wish to platy for at that time.
Arteta played for Spain in the Under-16 Euro Championships then at the FIFA World Championships at Under-17 level. Therefore he would have had to have held a British passport or a UK passport to qualify under residence.

A Football Association spokesman said: "It is our understanding of the FIFA rules, that Arteta does not qualify to play for England."

The possibility of Arteta inclusion in an England squad has been a hot topic for discussion with Steven Gerrard, Chris Waddle and PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor all telling talkSPORT they would welcome his addition to the England set-up.