The Berwick Rangers Question

[MadMac]

Most, if not all, of us on here are old enough to have heard of Tam Dalyell's famous "West Lothian Question". This occurred to me today:

Suppose that Scotland votes for, and subsequently attains, independence. What happens to Berwick Rangers? Notwithstanding the Derry City situation, is there any other instance in Europe of a senior league club located in one sovereign (as opposed to the Welsh clubs in the English system) nation playing in the competitions of another?

[Gordon Baird]

It seems that there are quite a few examples in Europe alone. Half a dozen clubs from Liechtenstein play in Switzerland, likewise Finnish clubs in Sweden.
There are also odd teams from Italy and Spain playing across borders. These are often clubs from enclaves but their nationality is not at question.

[Scottish]

Berwick Rangers are members of the SFA. There is no reason to suppose that status would change for whatever reason - even if you had to have your passport checked on the way in and way back out. I can't imagine Berwick, having been SFA members for over a century, would wish to resign and I can't imagine the SFA having any motive to expel them. I believe the same would have applied to Gretna, had they remained in the Cumberland FA, instead of 'switching sides.'

[MadMac]

Thanks Gents - apparently more widespread than I had imagined. I was just wondering if UEFA/FIFA might flex their muscles, so to speak.

[the hibLOG]

Wellington Phoenix play in the Australian A-League.

[Gunboat Briggs]

AS Monaco are another obvious example.

[Scottish]

Sometimes it's not just 'small' countries either. Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps are all in the MLS.

[John Meffen]

When Istria was 'quasi independent' due to ethnic & territorial disagreements between Italy & Yugoslavia following WWII, Ponziana left the Italian League and joined the Yugoslav League, then later re-joined the Italian League, but Trieste's other team Triestina throughout played in the Italian League.

So two different National Leagues in one not very big city [which itself was in a bizarre quasi-statelet].

Teams just play where suits them as long as the League accepts them.