It wasn't as if it was going to happen but the FA have crushed Mikel Arteta's dream of ever representing England after an insider opened the Big Fat Book of FIFA Rules.
Article 18.1.a within the Fifa statutes outlines that any player who has represented their country in an official competition or tournament, at whatever level, would at that time need to have held a passport for the country they later wish to play for in order to be permitted to make the switch.
Arteta played for Spain in the U16 European Championships and then in the FIFA World Championships at U17 level, but didn’t hold a British passport at the time ... therefore leaving him unable to represent anyone other than Spain at international level.
