O’Neill slams FAI’s poaching policy
MICHAEL O’NEILL has revealed that he is irritated with the FAI for targeting Northern Ireland players from a nationalist background to switch allegiances to the Republic of Ireland. A number of players born in Northern Ireland have chosen to play for the Republic under dual nationality rules. ‘The FAI only ever approach one type of player: Catholic,’ said O’Neill, who believes Sunderland defender Paddy McNair, a Protestant, was considered by the FAI chiefly because of his name. The five players born in the north currently in the Republic ranks are Catholic: James McClean, Shane Duffy, Darron Gibson, Marc Wilson and Eunan O’Kane. On becoming manager of Northern Ireland in early 2012, O’Neill spoke to Derry-born McClean about switching back, as he still is eligible do so, as was Wilson, who declined to meet him. ‘I don’t have a problem with James McClean. He was 22 years of age. He knew what he wanted. I have a problem when it’s a 16, 17 or 18-year-old having to make a decision on his international future,’ said the 48-year-old, who turned down the Scotland manager’s job in January. ‘What is the point of asking a player to change his allegiance, to make a decision about his whole international future, and then not pick him? Daniel Devine of Partick Thistle is a west Belfast boy and would have gone to the Euros with us — only he can’t play for Northern Ireland as he’s signed an international transfer. ‘I can list you ten players who’ve made that decision and have never represented the Republic.’ QPR striker Paul Smyth, a Belfast GAA fan, could switch ranks under the contentious FIFA rule which allows players born on the island to declare for either the North or the Republic. ‘You can’t assume because a player from the North watches GAA that he wants to play for the Republic of Ireland,’ said O’Neill. ‘I liked the GAA. So did Jim Magilton and Martin O’Neill. ‘I don’t have a huge fear of Paul going anywhere,’ added O’Neill, who intends to pick the Under-21 international for the summer tour to Panama and Costa Rica. To help prevent further Northern exposure, he intends to speak to Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill, a former captain of Northern Ireland. ‘I hope that Martin and I can get some sort of gentleman’s agreement whereby if a young boy has represented Northern Ireland at aged 17 to 21, the FAI don’t ask him to change,’ said O’Neill.