BARA KEEPS DOOR AJAR FOR KYLE
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KYLE LAFFERTY has been assured by Ian Baraclough he still has a future with Northern Ireland after he was axed for an alleged sectarian comment.
He was withdrawn yesterday after a video of the ex-Rangers striker making the comment went viral on social media.
Lafferty’s club Kilmarnock announced on Thursday they were launching an investigation into the incident, saying they find “all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable”.
Northern Ireland sent the former Norwich, Burnley and Hearts forward home following talks between himself, Baraclough (inset), his agent and the Irish FA.
Open
Baraclough defended the IFA’s decision but left the door open for Lafferty, who is 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,” said the Irish boss.
“You have to discuss them.
“I’m here to support my players.
“The manager’s role 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 it will be sensationalised, but I’m there for Kyle.”
The video shows Lafferty allegedly calling a man “a f ***** g b ***** d” in response to him saying “Up the Celts’” after they had posed together for a photo in a bar.
An IFA statement stated he had been unable to train since Tuesday because of a back injury and Baraclough said he would not have been available for this evening’s clash with Kosovo at Windsor Park.
It remains to be seen if Lafferty ever adds to his 85 caps and the 35-year-old’s last international goal was back in November 2016.
The controversy is an unwelcome distraction for Baraclough as he bids to avoid the nightmare scenario of relegation to the fourth tier of the Nations League.
Northern Ireland would be in pot five for next month’s draw for the Euro 2024 qualifiers if they go down to Group D and Baraclough says his players understand what is at stake.
He added: “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 and the players are too.
“This situation gives the Kosovo match the feel of a World Cup game or a Euros game because there’s so much at stake.”