IFA say Michael O’Neill was speaking 'in a personal capacity'

The IFA have said that Michael O’Neill was speaking “in a personal capacity” when he criticised the FAI’s recruitment of players from Northern Ireland and charged that they only approach Catholics.

The North’s football association have also reiterated that they accept the right of any player born within the jurisdiction to choose whether to play for the North or the Republic.

Asked about O’Neill’s comments yesterday, the IFA’s head of communications, Neil Brittain, said: “Anyone born in Northern Ireland has the right to play for the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. That is something we accept. The thing for us is to create an international programme which is professional and representative of this part of the world.”