Rabbitte was wrapping the red flag of the ManU global franchise around himself on December 30. He might as well as said being Irish is about loving a McDonald's and Coke.
For those with access ...
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/opi...0RABBITTE.html
There is a fascinating blind spot in the Irish psyche when it comes to British football, that has to do with the early coverage on television and subsequently Sky-ification. I don't think anyone can claim to be immune. I'm happy to confess that I still have a fond spot for Leeds United that goes back a (erm, very) long way, but I certainly won't be adding it to some oddball collection of qualities that makes me Irish.
I can't imagine the leader of a major political party in any other country making a statement like Rabbitte's, still less his getting away with it as if he has just said nothing of note.
It's as if football in this country didn't exist outside of the E. Premiership hype machine. Weird but, unfortunately, very real.