IFA invoke four-day rule

The Irish Football Association have taken the unusual step of invoking FIFA’s four-day rule after a spate of withdrawals from the Northern Ireland squad.

Paul McVeigh (Norwich), George McCartney (Sunderland), Steve Jones (Crewe), Danny Sonner (Peterborough) and Gary Hamilton (Portadown) have all pulled out of the World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan in Baku on Saturday.

The five players are now ineligible to feature for the clubs either four days before or four days after the international fixture following the IFA’s stance.

Northern Ireland assistant manager Gerry Armstrong said: “We have invoked the rule to try and make sure we get the players we need.

“If someone phones up and says they have an injury, how do we know they have an injury for sure.

“Time and time again two or three days after an international players are suddenly available for their clubs.

“It has got to be fair all ways for Northern Ireland and the clubs.”

Armstrong is still confident Northern Ireland can triumph despite a weakened squad heading out to the Caspian Sea today.

“We have some good lads here and the confidence is still high,” he said.

“There is enough belief in the camp for us to go and get a result in Azerbaijan.”