Players fly economy class....

[weldoninhio]

I am confused by the FAI claim that the height-challenged players were those selected to sit in economy - doesn't explain how McShane and Doyle were initially allocated the smaller seats. Cue cries of discrimination from those under 5'9".
Fair play to Chippy and Alan Kelly (who have both experienced the worst of the FAI themselves) for giving up their seats.

From the Irish Times report: "This time the problem was that there were only 22 business class seats and some of them were allocated to members of the management team. Soon after take off, a brief game of high altitude musical chairs broke out with Liam Brady and Alan Kelly giving up their extra leg room so that Paul McShane, who recently had an operation on his knee, and Kevin Doyle could stretch out.
But Giovanni Trapattoni and Marco Tardelli stayed put while five Irish players, including Aiden McGeady and Stephen Hunt, were left in the more cramped seats.
The FAI insisted afterwards that they had been aware of the problem beforehand and had allocated the shorter players to the seats with less legroom."

None of us are surprised by this. I'm sure the players aren't either. Now, on with the job and get the win tomorrow so we can forget nonsense like this.

You'd swear they had to get a train through India!! The seats on airlines are not that cramped!! None of them should be flying first class anyway, unless they are all willing to pay the difference. And if McShanes knee is so bad that he can't sit for 3.5 hours why is he in the squad to play a 90 minute physical football game.

Its nonsense, a non-story.

[eirebhoy]

None of them should be flying first class anyway, unless they are all willing to pay the difference.

It's a chartered FAI flight. Someone has to sit there.

And flights are cramped for some. I'm 6'3 and would usually have to stick my feet out the isle on any plane. I can't sit in the back of a car for too long because my knees start paining. I play 5 a side and have never in my life had a knee injury. We're not all the same.
That's not to say that I'd even dare splash out for 1st class but I'd be walking around the plane, or stand, a bit during flights.

[Jicked]

You'd swear they had to get a train through India!! The seats on airlines are not that cramped!! None of them should be flying first class anyway, unless they are all willing to pay the difference. And if McShanes knee is so bad that he can't sit for 3.5 hours why is he in the squad to play a 90 minute physical football game.

Its nonsense, a non-story.

While I agree it's not a big story, to say the players shouldn't fly first class is laughable.

[youngirish]

It's a chartered FAI flight. Someone has to sit there.

And flights are cramped for some. I'm 6'3 and would usually have to stick my feet out the isle on any plane. I can't sit in the back of a car for too long because my knees start paining. I play 5 a side and have never in my life had a knee injury. We're not all the same.
That's not to say that I'd even dare splash out for 1st class but I'd be walking around the plane, or stand, a bit during flights.

I'm 6'1 which is taller than nearly everyone in the squad and I've never had a problem on the plane in economy. Don't think anyone is as tall as you eirebhoy bar Westwood.

[tetsujin1979]

I'm 6 foot, and have to get up and walk around on long flights. I can just about handle short haul flights on Ryanair, even if my knees are wedged up against my chin, but I need to stretch out afterwards

[Scooby Doo]

Non-event. Move on. Looks like the Celtic Tiger whinging/entitlements mentality still exists in some.
Smacks of desperation journalism aswell.

[The Legend]

lads, an international football team shouldnt be flying in coach unless its Malta, we are not Malta. I cant stand the FAI.