For the purposes of international football, the global governing body FIFA considers Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland to be distinct and individual countries.
[citation needed] The rules of selection were quite strict until 1971, when national teams were allowed to pick players if one of their parents were born in that country.
[5] Notes A large number of Scottish internationals born in Scotland never played senior club football in that country, either due to the circumstances of their upbringing; for example Alex Donaldson, Jimmy Nelson (raised in Belfast rather than England, settled in Wales after playing for Cardiff City), Tommy Lawrence, Scot Gemmill, Dominic Matteo, Richard Hughes, Ikechi Anya (who also played in the Spanish leagues) and Dominic Hyam,[12] or being scouted by clubs in England at a young age and remaining in the English football league system throughout their career; this includes several who reached the landmark of 25 caps such as Billy Liddell, Denis Law, Billy Bremner, Willie Donachie, Asa Hartford, Frank Gray, John Robertson, John Wark, Colin Calderwood, Darren Fletcher, Barry Bannan and Grant Hanley.
[26][27] Conversely, Joe Baker had only played in the Scottish football league system when he was capped by his birthplace England in 1959 – he was the first player to be in that situation.
His elder brother Gerry Baker was also raised in Scotland but had been born in the United States and later appeared for their national team.