Originally Posted by
Fr. Murphy
From setanta.com...
The ill-fated Steve Staunton Republic of Ireland regime may be a thing of the past but the new management team have already embarrassed themselves for the first time after trying to coax an ineligible player into the squad.
Giovanni Trapattoni’s team had been keen to convince Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O’Hara to switch allegiances from England to Ireland, with assistant Liam Brady having spoken this week of his correspondence with the player and his will to set up a meeting between O’Hara and Ireland’s new Italian chief.
However, O’Hara is not eligible for Ireland. The midfielder – who has impressed when given the nod at White Hart Lane this term – played for England in a European U17 Championships qualifier in March 2003 and needed to declare for Ireland before his 21st birthday last September to be allowed to play for The Boys in Green.
Oblivious to this, Brady spoke this week of the player being receptive to an approach from Trapattoni’s team, saying: “His grandma and grandpa are from Ireland and I’ve asked him not to be hasty in playing for England in a European Championship game that will be coming up.
“I think he is receptive, but I’d like him to meet the manager – he’s the one you want to hear it from, not the assistant, but the kid was pleased to get the call.”
But, The Football Association of Ireland were forced into releasing a statement on Saturday evening, saying: “As he [O’Hara] turned 21 on September 25 last, he can’t apply for a change of nationality.
“Liam hadn’t been made aware of the 21st birthday rule.”
O’Hara made his debut for the England U21 side in a 0-0 draw with Poland last month, but is yet to taste competitive action at that level.