Fifa to hear Gibson submissions

Staunton wants to keep Gibson in the Republic set-up

Darron Gibson's international future is still in the balance with a Football Association of Ireland delegation to meet with Fifa officials next week.

The 19-year-old is at the centre of a dispute between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Derryman played for NI at underage level before switching to the Republic and he earned a full cap in last month's Euro 2008 qualifer in Slovakia.

The Irish FA have already made their submission to Fifa.

The IFA says that Fifa rules make clear that Gibson should not be allowed to play for the Republic because neither the player, nor his parents or his grandparents were born south of the border.

However, the FAI insists that the player is qualified to play for the Republic under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement which states that anybody born in Northern Ireland is entitled to Irish citizenship.

Gibson, who plays for Manchester United, earned his first Republic cap in the friendly win over Denmark in August.

The Derryman was a late call-up for that game by Steve Staunton after Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington had revealed that he was trying to persuade the player to switch allegiance from the Republic.

Gibson played for Northern Ireland U16s but then opted for the Republic.

Since then, the Derryman has earned U17, U19, U21 and his two full caps for the Republic.

Gibson is currently injured so he is not on duty for the Republic in this week's Euro 2008 qualifiers or the European Under-21 Championship.