Duff may be stripped of Irish appearance

Damien Duff may have one of his Republic of Ireland caps taken off him, and therefore reduce him to double-figure appearances, after it was reported that their goalless pre-Euro 2012 friendly away to Hungry will be expunged.

Duff retired last month after making a century of appearances for his country, but according to a report in today’s Irish Daily Star, a FIFA spokesman has said the appointment of the assistant referee Mr David Vang Andersen was not ‘in compliance with the FIFA regulations’, and therefore isn’t considered to be an official game by the world governing body.

Andersen was not on the current FIFA list of referees at the time of the game.

It means the Dubliner, whose 97th cap was earned in the friendly, will have only made 99 official appearances in the green shirt.

The result is not logged on the Ireland page of FIFA’s website, but remains on the FAI website.

Damien Duff has had his 100th Cap, which he earned against Hungary recently, taken away. He now has 99 caps again! #COYBIG

— #COYBIG (@COYBIG) September 20, 2012