The FAI have declined to comment on Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill’s remarks that the Republic of Ireland only ever approach ‘Catholic players’ in the north.
O’Neill’s comments stem from an interview he gave to The Irish Daily Mail earlier this week in which he accused the FAI of luring catholic players in the north away from the Northern Ireland national team and into the Republic of Ireland squad.
The former Shamrock Rovers boss claimed that he could name 10 players that have switched allegiances and have never represented the Republic of Ireland team while adding that he would hope that both him and Ireland manager Martin O’Neill could reach a gentleman’s agreement whereby the FAI would stop approaching players that have been capped by Northern Ireland between the age of 17 and 21.
The comments have received significant backlash and the IFA have stated that O’Neill was speaking in a ‘personal capacity’, however, the FAI have remained silent on the issue and have declined requests for comment.
The association did however issue press releases on the Republic of Ireland Under-15s 2-0 win against Cyprus in Dundalk and also a report on Dublin IT’s CFAI Cup win over Athlone IT.
DIT won their thirteenth RUSTLERS CFAI Cup after a 1-0 win over Athlone IT in Eamonn Deacy Park on Tuesday evening while two goals in less than 15 minutes from Anselmo Garcia McNulty and Oran Crowe earned the Ireland U15s a 2-0 win at Oriel Park.
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