James McClean and Martin O’Neill ‘regret’ criticism of referee

In an official FAI submission, James McClean and Martin O’Neill have expressed their regret to Fifa over their criticism of referee David Fernandez Borbalan’s handling of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Austria at the Aviva Stadium.

And FAI boss John Delaney said that he doesn’t believe their comments, which prompted a Fifa disciplinary probe, warrant match bans.

After the Spanish official had disallowed a Shane Duffy goal and also declined to give a penalty when Jon Walters went down under a challenge from Stefan Lainer in the 1-1 draw, McClean described the referee as the opposition’s “12th man” while O’Neill said his handling of the game had been “very poor”.