Stephen Ireland pulls out of Ireland fixtures

IRELAND OUT OF REPUBLIC GAMES

Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland has withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland's squad for their upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers because he "would not do his country or himself justice".

The news comes as a further blow for manager Steve Staunton for the Group D meetings at Croke Park with Germany on Saturday and Cyprus four days later following full-back Stephen Carr's withdrawal earlier with a hamstring problem.

Ireland, 21, pulled out of the Republic's last qualifier against the Czech Republic in September citing the death of a grandmother but later admitted he had made it up as he wanted to be with his partner who had suffered a miscarriage.


Defeat to the Czechs effectively ended the Republic's qualification hopes but the City midfielder gained an instant recall to the squad with the Republic boss insisting "it's history now".

But now Ireland has revealed he is unsure whether he could provide a "positive contribution" to the side.

He told Manchester City's website: "I have thought long and hard about whether I would do my country and myself justice if I joined up with the squad. Unfortunately, I don't believe I would on this occasion.

"The support I have received from Mr Staunton and the FAI has been excellent and everybody at Manchester City has also been superb. However, I do not believe I can make a positive contribution to our efforts to qualify."

Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson added: "This is disappointing for everybody. Steve Staunton and I have been working together to help Stephen through a period which he is clearly finding very difficult.

"We together have left no stone unturned in our efforts to convince him he has so much to offer his country and that international football will greatly benefit his long-term career.

"I hope that Stephen will soon feel stable enough to resume his international career."

Ipswich defender Alex Bruce has been called into the squad following the withdrawals.

Bruce, whose one senior cap came against Ecuador in the summer, had been put on standby by Staunton.

Strange decision...seems more like a City over Ireland thing to be honest.

WTF? Is he saying he's $h!t?

It's yet another club > country debate.

S4P wrote:It's yet another club > country debate.

It's ridiculous though, he hasn't even played every game for Man. City, has he? And granted, they're in good form, but since when did Man. City become so big that their players feel the need to rest...what's he saving himself for, those midweek Ch. League fixtures? And if he's even half decent, it can't be hard to make a "positive contribution" for a mid-level team like Ireland.

Sounds like something seriously wrong in the background, doesn't like the manager maybe? Either way, he should never be called up again for refusing to play for such a flaky reason.

It's obviously to do with what happenend before. I don't think he is wanting a rest or choosing city over ireland.

Thing is, he's one of Ireland's better players. Thats not just my opinion, he was getting rave reviews when he first got into the team.

Parks lives wrote:Thing is, he's one of Ireland's better players. Thats not just my opinion, he was getting rave reviews when he first got into the team.

It has nothing to do with football spank

It is totally about all the negative press surrounding what he did which he doesn't want to expose the squad to before the games

It's another terrible decision by him. the sooner he moves on the easier it will be for him

I know its not entirely football related, I was responding to posts like this

kas wrote: And if he's even half decent