Republic of Ireland V Northern Ireland - Tuesday, 24th May 2011 - Carling Nations Cup

**DannyInvincible** · 27/05/2011, 12:35 AM

Originally Posted by gastric

I hate it when supporters let political allegiances enter sport.

It's kind of inevitable in a sphere where disputed or contentious political boundaries dictate representative teams.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 27/05/2011, 12:36 AM

To be fair gastric, even if it hadn't happened, they would have done!

Maybe the answer is to comeback with an anthem that's not so contentious.

Somehow don't think 'Danny Boy' would have provoked the same reaction....

**osarusan** · 27/05/2011, 1:44 AM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

It's kind of inevitable in a sphere where disputed or contentious political boundaries dictate representative teams.

The fact that the majority didn't boo suggests there's nothing inevitable about it. The booing reflects on those who chose to do it, not the history they might suggest made it inevitable.

**DannyInvincible** · 27/05/2011, 2:35 AM

Hmm... inevitable, likely, expected, unsurprising; more or less, they mean the same thing in this context and any could have been used as an adjective to describe why I felt political allegiances making their way into international football was, in many ways, an unavoidable phenomenon due to the inherent nature of international football itself.

It reflects on a lot more in reality; certainly not just on a minority booing from within an apparent vacuum. Why and what do you think it reflects only on those who chose to boo?

**gastric** · 27/05/2011, 3:24 AM

Lads, thanks for your comments. As I said it is possibly a naive point of view, but I hate the fact that extemists can use such behaviour to further their political views as there are many stupid enough to listen.

**osarusan** · 27/05/2011, 3:54 AM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Hmm... inevitable, likely, expected, unsurprising; more or less, they mean the same thing in this context and any could have been used as an adjective to describe why I felt political allegiances making their way into international football was, in many ways, an unavoidable phenomenon due to the inherent nature of international football itself.

It reflects on a lot more in reality; certainly not just on a minority booing from within an apparent vacuum. Why and what do you think it reflects only on those who chose to boo?

My point is that there were a majority of people at the game whose political allegiances are the same as those who were booing, yet this allegiance didn't manifest itself in the form of booing the anthem of another country. So, for some, this manifestation was clearly avoidable.

Why and what do you think it reflects only on those who chose to boo?

I'll rephrase - it reflects badly on only those who chose to boo.

**Fixer82** · 27/05/2011, 6:02 AM

Originally Posted by gastric

Lads, thanks for your comments. As I said it is possibly a naive point of view, but I hate the fact that extemists can use such behaviour to further their political views as there are many stupid enough to listen.

I don't think a bunch of youngfellas who watch 3 Celtic games a year and don't vote can be called extremists. Skangers may be a much more suitable word

**Not Brazil** · 27/05/2011, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

It's hardly surprising though, it's realistic and quite representative of nationalist footballing support in NI. It won't stop him giving his all to NI and he'd hardly be the first NI international to feel as much

Niall is quoted by the BBC last night.

"...the bottom line is that I was born in Northern Ireland, I chose to play for Northern Ireland and I will always give 100 per cent every time I play for Northern Ireland. I love playing for Northern Ireland and the fans have been good to me - I have no regrets."

The highlighted bit is all that really matters.

Starts tonight v Wales.

**Charlie Darwin** · 27/05/2011, 11:47 AM

I think people have let their imaginations run a little bit with regard to what he said. I'm sure there are plenty of players in the team who'd be NI fans first and ROI fans second, so saying he's a Republic of Ireland fan doesn't mean they'd be his first choice.

**SwanVsDalton** · 27/05/2011, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Not Brazil

Niall is quoted by the BBC last night.

"...the bottom line is that I was born in Northern Ireland, I chose to play for Northern Ireland and I will always give 100 per cent every time I play for Northern Ireland. I love playing for Northern Ireland and the fans have been good to me - I have no regrets."

The highlighted bit is all that really matters.

Starts tonight v Wales.

Aside from mouth-foaming keyboard warriors, what would you say the reaction to what he said has been like amongst NI support generally?

**Stuttgart88** · 27/05/2011, 11:50 AM

I think he was unambiguously saying he was an outright ROI fan. I'm sure Deco was an outright Brazil fan when excelling for Portugal though.

**Not Brazil** · 27/05/2011, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

Aside from mouth-foaming keyboard warriors, what would you say the reaction to what he said has been like amongst NI support generally?

Generally, a bit naive on his timing, but so what if he supports the Republic. As long as he gives the Northern Ireland jersey 100%, that's all that can be asked of him.

**ifk101** · 27/05/2011, 12:06 PM

He's hardly the only player in the NI squad that supports us. I'm sure there's plenty of England supporters in the NI squad as well. Maik Taylor could be a massive German fan for all we know.

I'm sure players like Simon Cox and Paul Green are England fans as would others be in our squad.

**Sullivinho** · 27/05/2011, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

I think he was unambiguously saying he was an outright ROI fan.

That was my impression too.

What a difference a tactfully placed 'also' would have made: "I'm also a Republic of Ireland fan so it was great to play against them."

But I guess he was in a hurry.

**SwanVsDalton** · 27/05/2011, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by Sullivinho

That was my impression too.

What a difference a tactfully placed 'also' would have made: "I'm also a Republic of Ireland fan so it was great to play against them."

But I guess he was in a hurry.

Probably just too excited about getting Robbie's jersey

If anything that would surely be the most galling aspect for an NI fan - McGinn admitting such fan-boy deference to an ROI player, is David Healy not enough?!

**dantheman** · 27/05/2011, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by Sullivinho

That was my impression too.

What a difference a tactfully placed 'also' would have made: "I'm also a Republic of Ireland fan so it was great to play against them."

But I guess he was in a hurry.

Or "I'm a Republic fan, but I also keep an eye out for the NI result on AERTEL from time to time!"

**geysir** · 27/05/2011, 12:40 PM

Expect a few more to step forward and say "I'm a Republic fan"

**BonnieShels** · 27/05/2011, 3:36 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Expect a few more to step forward and say "I'm a Republic fan"

Well that's just a political view. I'm sure there's a lot of people in the six who dislike constitutional monarchies but support being part of the UK.

I can also confirm the (partial) Ulster Banner and not the Ulster Provincial flag is flying high from the roof of Lansdowne. The FAI wouldn't make the same mistake twice would they?

**DannyInvincible** · 27/05/2011, 7:30 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Expect a few more to step forward and say "I'm a Republic fan"

Will the floodgates open?

Originally Posted by BonnieShels

I can also confirm the (partial) Ulster Banner and not the Ulster Provincial flag is flying high from the roof of Lansdowne. The FAI wouldn't make the same mistake twice would they?

Has anyone at the FAI explained how that happened? It is a bit strange, especially considering NI already played Scotland at Lansdowne a few months ago and the FAI would presumably have had an Ulster Banner in their possession since that. It would be extremely cynical to suspect some prankster within the FAI of mischief but how does something like that happen as innocent error?