EIGHT minutes into Ireland’s European Championship qualifier against Slovakia in Bratislava on Saturday night, Stephen Ireland was on top of the world, having just given his country the lead in a vital match away from home.

Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland has today admitted to lying about the circumstances of his withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland squad.

STEPHEN IRELAND has been released from international duty following the death of his grandmother and will not be available for Ireland’s European Championship qualifier against the Czech Republic on Wednesday.