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Lay off McCarthy, urges SFA chief

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Published Date: 10 October 2008
By Angus Wright
GORDON Smith, the chief executive of the SFA, says people should not criticise James McCarthy after the Hamilton midfielder decided his international future lies with the Republic of Ireland.
Glasgow-born McCarthy qualifies for the Republic through his Donegal-born grandfather and has represented the country at under-17, under-18 and under-21 level. But the SFA was hoping to persuade the 17-year-old to switch his allegiance to the countr
y of his birth.

McCarthy revealed yesterday that he could not turn his back on the Republic of Ireland, and Smith says fans must accept his decision.

"No problem with it at all," said Smith when asked about the matter yesterday. "It's up to the lad himself. People should not try and influence him, or criticise anyone. He has made a decision and should be respected for that.

"I stayed out of it. Billy Stark is involved at that level. I said to Billy to determine two things: is he a player you want to get, and then look and see whether he is still eligible to play and that he had an interest too.

"I would hope we wouldn't miss out on him, but he's made a decision. Maybe it should have been looked at before in terms of him playing for their (Republic of Ireland's] teams rather than ours."

McCarthy said: "I'm really flattered that Scotland were interested in me. The fact is I'd already made my decision. Ireland have been absolutely brilliant to me and my family and I couldn't turn my back on them."





The full article contains 266 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 09 October 2008 9:36 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

jerrymanders,

10/10/2008 00:32:57
Aiden?
2

Ted Crilly,

Craggy Island 10/10/2008 08:54:19
Just you watch, Gordon Smith will be making a statement next week telling people to lay off Aiden.
3

An Deasach,

Argyll 10/10/2008 09:27:51
#2
Instead of telling the fans to give him a hard time ?
4

Jurgen Harbourmaster,

10/10/2008 09:36:02
Really, Scotland had first dibs on both McGeady and McCarthy but were found dithering.

I'm glad Smith made this statement and hope hes privately inquiring as to why another young talent was allowed to slip through the net of a country that, lets face it, needs all the talent it can get its hands on.
5

,

10/10/2008 10:17:02
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6

Deano,

Over there 10/10/2008 10:33:01
Queue the bigots with their instant hatred of anything green or Irish...

Royalty for example has taken time out from smashing green traffic lights to make an absolutely nonsense comment.

McCarthy already plays for Ireland, it was the SFA that approached him out of the blue in the hope of 'turning' him. He decided not to change his international allegiance.

No doubt he will receive the same mindless bigotry when playing Rangers that McGeady does. It's just a pity Scotland's Shame can't even listen to their chairman who is now begging them to quit the bigotry. Too little, too late David...


7

,

10/10/2008 10:36:09
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8

,

10/10/2008 10:44:40
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9

Chuckle Bhoy,

10/10/2008 10:48:56
8# Havent you and your like been chanting for people with backrounds like McCarthy to "go home" for the last 6 months. Now when he has chosen that country over that of his birth you lot get your knickers in a twist. Amazing......

Make up yer feckin minds wil ye FFS.
10

Ted Crilly,

Craggy Island 10/10/2008 11:12:17
Very good point Chuckle Bhoy.

The one which really made me stop and think was Royalty's, "sinister motives abound." (#5)

What can possibly be sinister about an Irish passport-holder choosing to play football for Ireland?
11

,

10/10/2008 11:17:01
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12

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 11:23:34
Haven´t you brainless numpties been listening to Sir Minty Moonbeams ? Turn teh bile off.

Davie Weir hand penned a letter which he signed to the Rangers protection racket telling them that he no longer wanted to play for his country.

Is he Rangers´s captain ?

A lot of Royal bile on this thread today

Mc Carty chose the wrong school not the wrong country.
13

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 11:26:11
Lets not forget Walter Smith turning his back on his country
14

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 11:26:21
and Eck Mc Leish
15

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 11:26:31
and kenny Miller
16

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 11:26:47
and Elbows Mc Culloch
17

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 11:27:04
and Ally Mc Coist
18

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 11:27:19
and Thompson
19

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 11:27:28
and Boyd
20

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 11:27:37
and Dailly
21

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 11:27:47
and Hutton
22

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 11:27:55
and Bazza
23

Chuckle Bhoy,

10/10/2008 11:36:35
12# What lies would they be then. He wasnt pushed he chose and bigots like yourself will just have to accept it and move on.

Anyway here is what the lad said 2 years ago and nothing has changed since....

He said: “I have always wanted to play for Ireland and when the manager Sean McCaffrey picked me for these fixtures against Italy, I was delighted. I know that I’ll have to work very hard to get a spot in the team because they are a good side.

“I was born in Scotland but my mother’s family are from Donegal. My grandfather, Paddy Coyle, was a big influence on me before he died and it was my intention to represent Ireland if I was lucky enough to be selected.

“I was a Glasgow Celtic supporter as a kid and my grandfather used to tell about the history of Celtic and the Irish International team.

“I spent some time in Ireland with my relatives when I was younger and my aunts and uncles are coming along to the games during the week. My parents are coming over from Scotland, too.


Welcome aboard James...
24

Jurgen Harbourmaster,

10/10/2008 12:02:51
The sad thing, from a Scotland fans perspective, is that yes, people like Vierra choose to play for France instead of Benin, people like Podolski choose to play for Germany over Poland, people like Gough choose to play for Scotland over South Africa and people like Hargreaves choose to play for England over Canada or even Scotland and all for the same reason. And that was, in my opinion, the reason that McGeady choose to remain an Ireland player after Scotland rejected him. He must have thought he'd lost pound and found a fiver.

The thinly-veiled hatred of Ireland, papes, Celtic players and green traffic lights is pretty obvious from Royston-Gaysy and None-in-a-row!

Listen to SDM, he's telling you to climb out of the gutter and the dark ages all at the one time. Its not even difficult, just let it go and you will sleep better than you ever have in your life. If not, you will die early as your internal organs marinate in the poison called adrenalin that rushes through your body everytime you experience these hate filled rages.


Ninero - Kuranyi is lucky he gets picked in the German squad - he would under no circumstances play for Brazil as he simply isnt good enough.
25

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 12:19:38
Jurgen,

Es würde für Kevin besser gewesen sein, wenn er Ungarn oder Panama anstatt gewählt hatte

mfg

LFTR
26

Ted Crilly,

10/10/2008 12:22:58
#12,

Your question #6 presupposes that there is something wrong with players eligible for Scotland electing not to play for them.

Some players, for various reasons, have a choice of international teams. They are fully entitled to choose to play for any team they are eligible for, and do not have to explain their decision to you or anyone else.

You don't have to like it, but you can't do anything about it. You can keep bumping your gums about it all you like right enough, it'll achieve nothing.


27

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 12:27:30
Within most countries in the world a native grandparent is enough to qualify for a passport and citizenship that´s international law. When it comes to abiding by the laws of the land the bile brigade haven´t a scooby

I wonder if the incessant booing of Neil Lennon and Aiden Mc Geady helped make up his mind ?

Answers on a postcard please to the RST
28

,

10/10/2008 12:29:10
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29

Jurgen Harbourmaster,

10/10/2008 12:33:03
29 - Can you translate that from gibberish into english please?
30

Jurgen Harbourmaster,

10/10/2008 12:33:37
26 - Havent the foggiest? I got the moniker from the Mighty Boosh!
31

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 12:35:25
Tut mir leid Jurgen

He should have chosen panama or Hungary as he´s qualified to play for either of them also. He´s good enough for any of them. I think they have a poofy beard ruling in both those countries though!!
32

,

10/10/2008 12:41:26
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33

,

10/10/2008 12:44:02
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34

Ted Crilly,

10/10/2008 12:48:06
#33,

Is the famine song racist?
35

,

10/10/2008 12:52:27
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36

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 12:54:16
#34

I retract that overtly homophobic statement.My sincere apologies. If the truth be told I didn´t know you sported a homoerotic beard also. ;-)
37

,

10/10/2008 12:54:34
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38

Jurgen Harbourmaster,

10/10/2008 12:55:03
35 - Its more moronic than racist, however, yes, technically it can be defined as racist in the strictist definition of the word.

As Uber-Tim Radical, and openly admit to being part of a new top secret republican organistion called Feen-yin Death Crew Bhoyz, (an organisation that is so secret, its not even on any banned list yet) even I have to say though, its a bit over sensitive to phone up the Irish embassy because Rearangerz fans are making tools of themselves and embarrasing their club. Its like phoning up Alex Salmond and complaining that it rains too much in the Highlands.

39

Jurgen Harbourmaster,

10/10/2008 12:55:40
38 - Not with you, your a Massadebata!
40

,

10/10/2008 12:57:52
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41

,

10/10/2008 13:00:36
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42

Jurgen Harbourmaster,

10/10/2008 13:01:06
41 - Is that what your Mum told you?

Nobody wants to debate with you, your a plonker who cant reason, cant spell and cant get a job.

Suppose an apology for living off my taxes for the last 20 years would be out of the question shell suit man?
43

Ted Crilly,

10/10/2008 13:11:47
#36,

I referred to your question #6 in post #27.

You ask a question, but are not interested in the answer.

Why have some players chosen not to play for Scotland? Because they had a choice of countries to play for and have exercised that choice. End of story.

Now can you answer my question #35?
44

B4 Part B,

10/10/2008 13:39:58
I don't normally participate in this kind of thing, but here goes.......

Laying aside the obvious Rangers/Celtic slagging thats going on here, is no1 else extremely disappointed that a Scotsman (after all, thats where he was born and brought up) has chosen to play for another country? Does no1 else recognise that this guy is a good talent that should not have been allowed to slip through the net? Now whether thats down to inactivity at the SFA, the way his parents/grandparents brought him up, or the state of society as a whole, its surely something that needs to be looked at and addressed!!

FWIW I was born in Scotland, lived all my life here, supported Hearts all my life, my mum and her side of the family are Scottish, my dad and his (Large) side of the family are English, I would always, absolutely always pick Scotland if the choice came, I have never and would never have even considered playing for England (or Australia or South Africa as other relatives are native to, altho not sure on the heritage rules)
45

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 13:50:31
#45

You fail to understand that it was them that overlooked their country it was their country that overlooked them. The same problem that most of the Lisbon lions had still persists today. Both bhoys come from an Irish Catholic background that makes them second class citizens. They can hear on TV every week the racism that was directed at Neil Lennon. They can hear on TV the racism that is sung by the majority of traveling Rangers fans directed at themselves and their parents. They see a county that accepts this kind of behaviour and flatly refuses to do anything about it.

“I have always wanted to play for Ireland and when the manager Sean McCaffrey picked me for these fixtures against Italy, I was delighted. I know that I’ll have to work very hard to get a spot in the team because they are a good side.

“I was born in Scotland but my mother’s family are from Donegal. My grandfather, Paddy Coyle, was a big influence on me before he died and it was my intention to represent Ireland if I was lucky enough to be selected.

“I was a Glasgow Celtic supporter as a kid and my grandfather used to tell about the history of Celtic and the Irish International team.

“I spent some time in Ireland with my relatives when I was younger and my aunts and uncles are coming along to the games during the week. My parents are coming over from Scotland, too.'
46

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 13:51:46
above should read

You fail to understand that it was NOT them
47

B4 Part B,

10/10/2008 13:58:15
#46 I understand that it was Scotland that overlooked him, however, there's as much racism up here with regards Scotland and England, as there is between Scotland and Ireland, agreed? Yet it would not matter to me how many times Scotland didn't pick me, or how many offensive or racist songs I heard about England - the country my father was born in - if they asked me to play for them, I would still turn them down, I would only play for the country of my birth.
48

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 14:03:54
#48

and if your English Mum wanted you to play for England because she was quite rightly so disgusted by the Scottish nations attitude towards England and if she also reminded you of the hurt and injustices that you experienced as a young developing promising child footballer because you happened to come from an English background. Would you reconsider?

49

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 14:06:17
#48 should read father
50

Jurgen Harbourmaster,

10/10/2008 14:08:39
48 - Yes, that highly commendable sentiment, and i as a scotland fan am dissappointed that neither of these guys will play for us. For the record, I lay the blame at the door of the SFA.

Especially in the instance of McGeady. Here we have a young boy that every major club in the UK wanted to sign. Liam Brady, the head of arsenal youth said he was the most talented player of his age group in the UK. What do the SFA do, they tell this guy that he cant play for Scotland anymore because he doesnt play for his school team.

What I cant work out, is that someone who trains four times a week with a pro side, plays for said pro sides youth team and also represents Scotland youth, what do the so called custodians of our game, feel that McGeady would benefit from turing out for his school team on an ash pitch every staurday morning as well as all that?

Anyone without an agenda would agree that a player who has pace and invention and regularly cuts the mustard in the CL is a big loss the Scotland squad.
51

B4 Part B,

10/10/2008 14:16:42
#49 Suppose you saw this coming, but no, I would not reconsider. I am a firm believer that YOUR nationality is determined by YOUR country of birth. Whilst I would appreciate the hurt that had happened in the past and my fathers, and his family's strong feelings about what had happened, and their heritage, I consider myself my own man, not my fathers or grandfathers, and not bound by their ancestory or heritage or their beliefs, and as such, I consider myself Scottish, and while this may be deemed selfish, it's all about me!!
52

B4 Part B,

10/10/2008 14:19:50
#49, apologies, just read that back and think I picked you up wrong, however, my answer would remain the same, I would only ever consider playing for the nation of my birth, no matter how much they halted/stunted/restricted my development as a footballer
53

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 14:22:13
#52

So Shaun Maloney and Terry Butcher should have represented Singapore as far as you are concerned ?
54

B4 Part B,

10/10/2008 14:34:10
#54, Quite simply, yes.
55

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 14:38:01
#55

That´s fair enough. Your opinion that is. To actually implement however would be more than a trifle fascist in my opinion.
56

Jurgen Harbourmaster,

10/10/2008 14:47:02
55 - Was it Cromwell who asked the question: "if you were born in stable, would it make you a horse?"...?
57

B4 Part B,

10/10/2008 14:47:55
#56, I wouldn't call it fascist, but as you say, that's your opinion.

Anyhoo, its been good having a balanced discussion regarding this, certainly wasn't expecting it with the way soo many of the earlier posts seemed to go! But, got to get back to work, unfortunately, I was never good enough to be a pro footballer, let alone have my choice of country to play for ;-)
58

B4 Part B,

10/10/2008 14:50:16
#57, I don't know if it was Cromwell that said that, however, if you were born in a stable, you certainly aint a dolphin!!

(sorry couldn't resist! lol)
59

&Larrsonfixestheradio,

10/10/2008 14:56:01
#58

Imagine with your attitude all those German Jews that fled Germany being made to play for Nazi Germany. Scary stuff. Brrrrrhhhh..

Lets hope you never have any political inclinations ;-) you could go a long way :-)
60

Ted Crilly,

10/10/2008 15:09:10
#57,

It was the Irish-born Duke of Wellington, on the suggestion that he was Irish.
61

Jurgen Harbourmaster,

10/10/2008 15:12:50
61 - Thats it, it was Welly what said it!

Same goes for Jesus actually, he could have been classed as a sheep or a donkey!
62

,

11/10/2008 08:39:47
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