Why does Simon Barjie play for Gambia?
Born in Milan, Italy · Citizenship: Italy
Short answer
Simon Barjie represents Gambia even though he was born in Italy. FIFA rules allow a player to represent any country whose nationality he holds, provided he has a family or residency connection to it; he committed to Gambia at senior level (first senior call-up on record: 2003).
Birthplace and citizenship
Simon Barjie was born in Milan, Italy.
Being born in Italy normally gives a player the right to represent Italy too, if he holds that nationality. Representing Gambia instead usually means a parent or grandparent was born there, or that the player lived there long enough to qualify through residency. Public records do not state which connection applied to Simon Barjie, so we do not guess.
International career path
His international pathway, as recorded on Wikidata:
- The Gambia — senior level, 2003–2007 (3 matches, 0 goals)
The rules in brief
A player can represent a country if they hold its nationality and have a genuine link to it: birth on its territory, a parent or grandparent born there, or several years of residency. Youth matches do not tie a player to a country. Since 2020, FIFA also lets a player switch once after a small number of senior appearances (no more than three, all before turning 21, none at a World Cup or continental finals) after a three-year wait.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Simon Barjie play for Gambia?
Simon Barjie holds Gambian nationality and chose to represent Gambia at senior level despite being born in Italy.
Where was Simon Barjie born?
Simon Barjie was born in Milan, Italy.
What nationality is Simon Barjie?
Wikidata lists Simon Barjie as a citizen of Italy.
Could Simon Barjie have played for Italy?
Probably, if he holds Italy nationality, as players born in a country are eligible for it. Once a player has played a competitive senior match for one country, switching is only possible under narrow FIFA exceptions.