Northern Ireland

Michael O'Neill accuses Republic soccer chiefs of targeting young northern Catholics

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has accused FAI chiefs of targeting Catholic players from the north
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has accused FAI chiefs of targeting Catholic players from the north Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has accused FAI chiefs of targeting Catholic players from the north

NORTHERN Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has accused Republic of Ireland soccer chiefs of targeting young Catholic players from the north.

Mr O’Neill expressed annoyance that the Football Association of Ireland continues to recruit potential players perceived to be from a nationalist background.

A Catholic brought up in Ballymena in Co Antrim, Mr O’Neill was himself capped by Northern Ireland 31 times.

Under FIFA rules players born in Northern Ireland can opt to play for either international team.

Mr O’Neill has been critical of the FAI’s approach to player selection.

“The FAI ever only approach one type of player, Catholic,” he told the Irish Daily Mail.

The paper also said he believes Sunderland player Paddy McNair, who is a Protestant, was considered by the FAI because of his name.

There are currently five high-profile soccer players from the north who played youth football for Northern Ireland but have since declared for the Republic.

Three are from Derry - James McClean, Shane Duffy and Darron Gibson - while Eunan O’Kane is from near Dungiven in Co Derry and Marc Wilson from Aghagallon, Co Armagh.

Darron Gibson
Darron Gibson Darron Gibson
Shane Duffy
Shane Duffy Shane Duffy

Mr O'Neill spoke to McClean when he became manager in 2012.

"I don't have a problem with James McClean," he said.

"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.

"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?"

Mr O’Neill said some young footballers who have declared to play for the Republic have subsequently never been given the chance to turn out for the team.

“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 10 players who’ve made that decision and have never played for the Republic.”

Mr O’Neill added that some people from a perceived nationalist background want to play for the north and discussed west Belfast GAA fan and QPR striker Paul Smyth who could switch allegiance under the current rules.

He said he is proud that both sides of the community are represented in the team.

“You can’t assume because a player from the north watches GAA that he wants to play for the Republic Of Ireland,” he said.

“I liked the GAA, so did Jim Magilton and Martin O’Neill.

“I don’t have a huge fear of Paul going anywhere.”

He said he wants to speak to his Republic of Ireland counterpart Martin O’Neill, also a former Northern Ireland player, about the issue.

“I hope that Martin and I can get some sort of gentleman’s agreement whereby if a young boy has represented Northern Ireland at age 17 to 21, the FAI won’t ask him to change.”

Responding to the comments, SDLP MLA Justin McNulty last night said the majority of Catholics would prefer to play for the Republic.

"I am sure Michael O'Neill wants the best players to play for him and that's his prerogative," he said.

"However, most Catholics identify with the Republic and that's why they want to play for it.

"Some Catholics are happy to play for the north and do and I'm sure the current arrangement will continue until such times as there is one unified Irish team."

The IFA in Belfast declined to comment on the interview, while the FAI in Dublin could not be contacted.

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill
Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill