Somaliland: Yorkshire granted international membership by CONIFA

[Deeq A.]

Somaliland Football Association

Yorkshire can boast the world’s newest international football team after its membership of the non-FIFA Confederation of International Football Associations (CONIFA) was ratified on Saturday.

The team, for which only players born in the county are eligible, was set up in July and are set to make their debut with a friendly match against Isle of Man at Hemsworth on Jan. 28.

CONIFA delegates unanimously passed Yorkshire’s application for membership at their annual general meeting in Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus.

The organisation tweeted: “Welcome to the CONIFA family to @YorksIFA! The 5th AGM just approved them unanimously as the newest member! Congratulations!”

CONIFA, which was established in 2013, describes itself as a federation for international teams “from nations, de-facto nations, regions, minority peoples and sports isolated territories.”

Yorkshire join the likes of Somaliland, Greenland and Quebec as members of the organisation, which stages its 2018 World Cup in London in June — though it is too late for Yorkshire’s involvement.