Nothing is cut and dried in football and every ruling from the game's hierarchy has both its good points and its bad points, but FIFA's latest offering in the game of 'what constitutes an international footballer?' is laughable at best, a tragedy within the context of the game at worst.
FIFA's congress has decided to lift the age limit on players who decide to switch allegiance from one country to another.
The move was proposed by Algeria with the support of a host of other African nations, the rationale being that these same countries hoped to welcome back players who had turned out for former colonial powers - France being the greatest example - at underage level but were restricted from representing the country of their birth, once they had passed the age of 21.
These same players were subsequently left in the international wilderness, unwanted by the 'France' in the equation, ineligible for their homeland.
Scratch the surface of this ruling and it points to the ugly side of the beautiful game, it points to careerism and a lapse of national identity that further blurs the line between club and international football.
On the surface, an Ireland team boasting players like Kevin Nolan, Mark Noble and Gary Cahill would be an improvement on what has gone before. There is no doubt that Noble is a far better player than Glenn Whelan, or that Gary Cahill would provide a formidable shield, with Richard Dunne, to Shay Given in the centre of defence.
The cost, however, greatly outweighs the benefit of having such players in the Irish ranks.
Many of these players - Nolan, for instance - have turned down the chance to play for Ireland before in the hope of getting picked for England. That's fair enough, nothing wrong with a player wanting to play for the country of his birth.
On the flip-side you have the likes of Aiden McGeady, James McCarthy or Sean St Ledger, British-born but with the necessary impetus to pull on the green jersey from an early age.
The problem now is that you will have players at 25 or 26 whose chances of representing England have disappeared and these same footballers will have one eye on the shop window of a World Cup or European Championships.
They declare for Ireland, maybe even learn how to mouth the words to 'Amhrán na bhFiann,' and take the places of players with lesser ability but a far greater right to wear the green jersey.
We'll qualify for the big tournaments, sure, but it will be an empty experience as long as there are players with no kinship to the country taking part, players with no greater motivation than securing a new club and their take home pay.