DOOR’S NOT CLOSED ON AXED KYLE
KYLE LAFFERTY has been assured by boss Ian Baraclough he still has a future with Northern Ireland having been dropped for an alleged sectarian comment.
Lafferty was withdrawn yesterday after a video of the former Rangers striker went viral on social media.
His club Kilmarnock announced on Thursday they would investigate, saying they find “all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable”.
The former Norwich, Burnley and Hearts forward was axed following talks between the player, his agent, the Irish FA and Baraclough.
Baraclough defended the IFA’S decision, but left the door open for Lafferty, Northern Ireland’s second highest scorer with 20 goals, to return. “I’m not going to go into the conversation, but it’s right that we spoke about things,” he said. “You have to discuss them.
“I’m here to support my players. I’ve always looked at the manager’s role as having many facets. That includes being a father figure, someone they can turn to and talk to and that relationship will still be there.
“It’s not necessarily the end. It will be reported in some quarters as that and will be sensationalised, but I’m there for Kyle.”
The video shows Lafferty (below with Baraclough) allegedly calling a man “a f ***** g b ***** d” in response to him saying “Up the Celts’” after they posed together for a photo.
The IFA said Lafferty (top) had been unable to train since Tuesday because of a back injury and Baraclough said he would not have been available against Kosovo tonight.
It remains to be seen if Lafferty adds to his 85 caps. The 35-year-old’s last international goal was in November 2016.
His withdrawn is an unwelcome distraction for Baraclough as he bids to avoid relegation to the fourth tier of the Nations League, which would put Northern Ireland in pot five for the Euro 2024 qualifiers draw.
Baraclough said: “Clearly we don’t want to drop into pot five, as it makes the task a lot harder when it comes to the draw next month.
“I’m very well aware of that, the players are too. This gives the Kosovo match the feel of a World Cup game or Euros game as there’s so much at stake.”