North boss O’Neill criticises FAI over ‘poor moral’ behaviour
MICHAEL O’NEILL has accused the FAI of ‘poor moral’ behaviour in their pursuit of young players who have represented Northern Ireland at youth level and claimed some of those who have switched have regretted the decision.
Northern Ireland boss O’Neill was so incensed by the recent case of Derry City star Aaron McEneff that he expressed his dissatisfaction to Republic of Ireland Under 21 manager Noel King about the FAI’s handling of the situation.
A controversial FIFA loophole allows the Republic to select players from throughout the island has long been a source of frustration at the Irish FA, with Derry born players like James McClean, Shane Duffy and Eunan O’Kane coming through the North’s ranks before opting to switch.
McEneff, his younger brother Jordan (who captained Nothern Ireland’s Under 16s), and Derry’s Josh Daniels have all migrated south since the Euro 2016 finals. What annoyed O’Neill about the McEneff move was that he did it during an Under 21 campaign.
‘I thought it was morally poor for the Republic of Ireland to do that and I made that clear to Noel King at the time,’ stated O’Neill.
‘There are examples of players switching over the years and then they don’t play any games. It would be good if they (FAI) looked at it and said do we genuinely think he is going to be a senior international player for us or are we just taking him for the sake of it?
‘For some players like James McClean it has worked. He is a regular international for the Republic and a Premier League player with West Brom but most of the players when they have to make this decision have not played any first-team football and it is a big decision to make.
‘Players who have gone to the Republic from us may not admit they regret the decision, but I know deep down some of them do.’
Asked if he would speak to Republic boss and former Northern Ireland skipper Martin O’Neill to express his frustration with the FAI, O’Neill said: ‘I would but at the end of the day I do think it’s something which is an FAI policy and not necessarily anything to do with the manager.
‘Martin is fairly detached from the whole thing. What I would say is that I don’t think it should be allowed that players can change at such young ages.
‘They should be allowed to make a decision when they are older and have more experience.’