KYLE Lafferty has withdrawn from Northern Ireland's Nations League squad amid an investigation by his football club into an alleged sectarian remark.
This week, Kilmarnock FC said it was aware of footage "which appears to show a member of our playing staff using language of a sectarian nature".
The six-second footage was widely shared on social media.
Kilmarnock said it found "all forms of discriminatory behaviour completely unacceptable".
The Irish FA said yesterday that it "notes an investigation has been launched into the video" by the Scottish club.
Explaining that Lafferty had been withdrawn, it added that a "minor back problem" had also prevented the player training this week.
Speaking later, Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough said he had seen the video but refused to comment further on its contents.
He said the incident will “not necessarily” lead to the end of Lafferty's international career.
"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," he said.
He insisted part of the reason for the player withdrawing from the squad was due to the back problem.
"It is now pending an inquiry with his club and it’s not for us to state anything on that. I can’t elaborate any more.
"He’s not our contracted player. He’s with us at this moment in time, but he’s contracted by Kilmarnock. They pay his wages, they own his contract and it’s for them to conduct the inquiry."
Baraclough flagged the amount of cross-community work being carried out by the IFA, which he added will continue and which is “backed by everybody”.
"I’m not going to elaborate on what I’ve said about the Kyle situation, because it is now part of an inquiry and that’s for Kilmarnock to conduct, so it’s wrong to comment on the actual incident itself," he added.
