I didn’t attack FAI, says NI manager over losing youngsters to Republic

MICHAEL O’Neill has said that he did not attack the Republic’s football authority over the issue of player eligibility after a row sparked last week.

The issue began when O’Neill was quoted by the Irish Daily Mail rapping the FAI for targeting players from a nationalist background to switch allegiance to play for the Republic.

“The FAI only ever approach one type of player: Catholic,” he was quoted as saying.

Irish boss Martin O’Neill responded to voice his disappointment at the comments.

Yesterday, in his press conference to announce the Northern Ireland squad that will face South Korea in an international friendly, Michael O’Neill read a prepared statement on the issue.

However, the Portadown-born manager refused to answer questions about the controversy.

In his original comments, the Northern Ireland manager

Response: Michael O’Neill yesterday named Partick Thistle defender Daniel Devine as an example of a player who made a decision as a youth to switch allegiance from Northern Ireland to the Republic, but had gone on to be uncapped at senior level.

O’Neill said he could name 10 players in a similar position.

“During a recent interview, I was questioned about the eligibility issue; contrary to how it was reported, I did not attack the FAI — I merely responded to the questions I was asked.

“For me, eligibility is not and should not be a political issue, nor should it be a religious issue. For me, eligibility is a football issue.

“Recent media reports have sparked much opinion, particularly around the rights of players born in Northern Ireland to be free to choose for whom they wish to play. I have never disputed that right.

“Nor have I ever been critical of a player for exercising that right.

“The FAI correctly states it has broken no rules in approaching young Northern Ireland players.

“My concerns lie specifically with players aged 17 to 21 in the underage set-ups.

“I’ve seen a heavy price paid by too many talented young players — players who have transferred their allegiance to a country that ultimately doesn’t rate them or play them, creating an international vacuum for the player that signals a wholly different outcome to the career that they might have had.

“My request, therefore, to the FAI and any other association is that: that if a young player has chosen to represent Northern Ireland at Under 17, Under 19 or Under 21, that he is allowed to develop in these crucial formative years without the responsibility of having to make a decision regarding international allegiance that is binding for the rest of his career.

“My request extends to any country, not just the Republic of Ireland.”

Frank Mitchell: NI’s best should play for the country, Page 10