Trap opted against Albania showdown, says Delaney

It was Giovanni Trapattoni who made the decision that Ireland would not play a friendly game against Albania during their forthcoming pre-Euros training camp in Italy.

“The manager wasn’t keen on it,” FAI chief executive John Delaney revealed yesterday.

“The request was put to us and our view was that if the manager didn’t want to play it, fine, and if he did, that was fine too. He took the final decision. And it was a football decision.