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London (AFP) – The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) hailed on Monday “a ground-breaking deal for Irish sport” after an agreement was reached for the Republic or Ireland’s male and female footballers to receive equal pay for internationals.
As part of the deal, the men’s team have agreed to reduce their match fees with the FAI matching that contribution to increase pay for the female players.
“The Football Association of Ireland is proud to announce that players representing the Republic of Ireland senior men and senior women’s international teams will receive the same match fees on international duty with immediate effect in a ground-breaking deal for Irish sport,” the FAI said in a statement.
England, Brazil, Australia, Norway and New Zealand are among the other nations to have publicly committed to paying their men and women players the same amount for earning a senior cap.
“This is a great day for Irish football,” said Ireland women’s team captain Katie McCabe.
“We have taken a huge step forward with this deal and have shown the world what can be achieved through unity as we offer male and female international players the same opportunities.”
Everton defender Seamus Coleman said the Irish men’s team were happy to play their part in ensuring a deal could be reached.
“We are delighted as players to do what we can to ensure that our female international players are treated equally and fairly and we remain fully committed to doing whatever we can to achieve that goal together,” said Coleman.
The FAI said the equal pay will begin immediately with September’s internationals and “equality of approach” has also been agreed with regard to bonuses for tournament qualification.

Irish FA agrees equal pay deal for men's and women's teams

Irish FA agrees equal pay deal for men's and women's teams - World Soccer Talk

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Dublin (AFP) – Irish international footballer Anthony Stokes&nbsp;received a two-year suspended prison sentence Wednesday for head-butting an Elvis Presley impersonator at a Dublin nightclub, according to Irish media reports.
Stokes, 28, who comes from Dublin but has lived in Britain for more than a decade, had previously admitted assaulting Anthony Bradley in the VIP lounge of the former Buck Whaley’s nightclub in the city centre on June 8, 2013.
In a victim impact statement to the court Bradley said the blow delivered by Stokes had forced him to undergo extensive dental work and surgery to his nose.&nbsp;
He had also been unable to work for eight months and was still on medication for depression.
Stokes pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm, according to RTE, Ireland’s national broadcaster, and The Irish Times.
The Irish Independent quoted police detective Des Rogers as telling the court that when Stokes was being taken from the nightclub after the incident he was heard to say: “What did I do? I didn’t start it. If someone puts it up to me I am going to nut (head-butt) them”.
The court heard Stokes had called the nightclub the following day to apologise for his “nasty and cowardly” behaviour, his defence counsel said.&nbsp;
The footballer offered to pay 30,000 euros ($32,000) as an “expression of remorse” and this was accepted by the judge.
Separate civil proceedings against Stokes will continue in the Irish High Court.
Stokes, who has been capped nine times at full international level for the Republic of Ireland and currently plays for Blackburn Rovers, has previously played for Arsenal, Celtic and Hibernian.

Irish footballer avoids jail for Elvis impersonator assault: reports

Irish footballer avoids jail for Elvis impersonator assault: reports - World Soccer Talk

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Dublin (AFP) – Ireland midfielder James McCarthy withdrew from the squad for Saturday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier with Austria ending a fiery debate between national coach Martin O’Neill and his Everton manager Ronald Koeman over his fitness.
Koeman blamed O’Neill for giving 25-year-old McCarthy too much game time in two 2018 World Cup qualifiers last month as he had just returned from a groin operation.
O’Neill said the Dutchman’s claim was rubbish and accused him of ‘bleating’ even though McCarthy — who has over 40 caps to his name — has only played just over an hour for Everton since the qualifiers.
However, on Monday the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) issued a statement saying he would not feature and had been joined on the sidelines by three other players.&nbsp;
“Injury has ruled out Cyrus Christie, Stephen Ward, James McCarthy and Stephen Quinn from the provisional squad, while some players will be assessed by the FAI medical staff,” read the statement.
Experienced defender John O’Shea is one of the players being assessed and O’Neill will hope he is fit as he has been hit prior to Monday by the loss of leading striker Shane Long.
Daryl Murphy, who scored the equaliser in the 2-2 draw in their opening qualifier against Serbia, is also a non starter. &nbsp;&nbsp;
Ireland — whom O’Neill guided to the last 16 of Euro 2016 — are presently level on seven points with table-topping Serbia as the Irish bid to reach their first World Cup finals since 2002. &nbsp;

McCarthy pulls out of Irish World Cup qualifier

McCarthy pulls out of Irish World Cup qualifier - World Soccer Talk

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Zurich (AFP) – FIFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) for a political symbol worn during a friendly in March, a spokesperson for the world body said Friday.
Ireland’s commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the country’s Easter Uprising on their shirts has become more sensitive with England and Scotland locked in a battle with FIFA over the wearing of poppies in tribute to war dead.
A FIFA spokesperson confirmed proceedings had been opened against the FAI, adding: “We cannot comment further at this stage nor speculate on any outcome.”
Meanwhile the FAI said Friday it had no comment to make on the situation beyond FIFA’s brief announcement.&nbsp;
The Easter Rising which took place in April 1916 was an Irish rebellion against British rule.
The Republic of Ireland had the years 1916-2016 on their jerseys for the March 25 friendly against Switzerland.
England and Scotland have used the Irish example in their negotiations with FIFA over whether they can wear poppies on black armbands when they play each other in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley on November 11, which is Armistice Day and the traditional day for Britons to pay tribute to their war dead.
FIFA has rejected the poppy saying it is a political symbol.
A compromise was reached with FIFA to allow England players to wear a poppy armband during the friendly against Spain in November 2011, but world football chiefs have so far taken a tougher stance in this instance.
In a statement issued Thursday, the global governing body said: “FIFA fully respects the significance of commemorating Remembrance Day on November 11 each year.
“The Laws of the Game are overseen by the International Football Association Board (composed of the four British FAs and FIFA) and (are) applicable to all 211 member associations. The relevant Law 4, para. 4, clearly states that the players equipment should not carry any political, religious or commercial messages.
“The Laws are applied uniformly in the event of similar requests by any member association to commemorate similar historic events.”

FIFA take action against Ireland for political symbol

FIFA take action against Ireland for political symbol - World Soccer Talk

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Belgrade (AFP) – Daryl Murphy’s first ever international goal secured the Republic of Ireland a 2-2 draw against Serbia in an entertaining 2018 World Cup qualifier on Monday.
Murphy had come on only four minutes before he restored parity after the hosts — who have mounted a revival and are unbeaten in five games under 63-year-old coach Slavoljub Muslin — had recovered from 1-0 down to lead 2-1.
Jeff Hendrick, whose impressive Euro 2016 performances earned him a move to English Premier League side Burnley last week, opened his account for the Irish in the third minute before the impressive Filip Kostic levelled with what was also his first goal for his country just after the hour mark.
Playing in front of a half-empty stadium as fans registered their disdain for their woeful form which has seen them fail to qualify for the past three major finals, Serbia took the lead through a penalty from Southampton’s Dusan Tadic, and he celebrated by sucking his thumb to welcome the recent birth of his second child. &nbsp;&nbsp;
Hendrick struck the opener as his shot from just outside the box took a significant deflection off Serbian skipper Branislav Ivanovic after the hosts had struggled to clear a free-kick.
Irish veteran John O’Shea, playing his 115th game for his country, found Shane Long and his lay-back to Hendrick was well hit even if it ended up getting help from Ivanovic.
Serbia, with stars Aleksandar Kolarov and Nemanja Matic missing through suspension, took time to gel — understandably given there were only three players remaining from their last Euro 2016 qualifier.&nbsp;
They should really have gone in on level terms at the break though, as with their final attack Tadic put in a wicked low cross which Darren Randolph could only beat out to the feet of Newcastle United striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.
However, he failed to control the ball and the Irish were able to clear — the Serbs exiting to the jeers of the supporters who had turned up.
Kostic though levelled matters just after the hour mark.
O’Shea got completely outfoxed by Tadic in the box and, with Irish skipper Seamus Coleman having drifted off marking Kostic, the 23-year-old Hamburg midfielder made no mistake from close range.
Kostic was at the centre of the 68th-minute penalty award as he burst into the area and went down as if he’d been clipped by Jon Walters. Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai didn’t hesitate in pointing to the spot.
Tadic showed no nerves in converting it.
The Irish were hugely fortunate not to go 3-1 down minutes later as Randolph made a mess of catching a shot and the ball fell to substitute Andrija Pavlovic, but with just the ‘keeper to beat and only yards out he hit the crossbar.&nbsp;
The Irish sparked back into life after those reverses and Murphy drew them level 10 minutes from time, meeting Robbie Brady’s corner with a powerful header.
Serbia stormed back and Ivanovic should have done better after being found on his own in the box. Randolph did well to block his effort and although the ball rebounded off an Irish defender, Coleman was on the line to clear.

Murphy's first international goal grabs draw for Irish

Murphy's first international goal grabs draw for Irish - World Soccer Talk

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London (AFP) – Shay Given earned the tribute “legend” from the Football Association of Ireland after the goalkeeper announced his retirement from international football on Thursday after a 20-year career.
The 40-year-old — capped 134 times — made his first appearance for his country against Russia in 1996 and played at the 2002 World Cup finals, where they reached the last 16, and Euro 2012.
He announced after that disastrous campaign that he was retiring from international football only to change his mind a few months later.
“It’s every boy’s dream to play football for his school, his local club, and maybe, in his wildest dreams, his country,” Given, who was part of the Irish squad which reached the last-16 of Euro 2016, wrote on Twitter.
“To try and be as good at football as his father was before him and make his mother proud.
“I’ve been blessed that I was able to do this, from kickabouts in the back yard at home in County Donegal with my brothers, to playing for St Colomba’s Collage Stranorlar, Lifford Celtic and then to making my debut with the Republic of Ireland aged 18.
“I’m one of the very lucky ones who got to wear the jersey for his country and wore the badge with pride 134 times. But now it’s time to hang up the gloves and move from the onion bag to the terraces, where I’ll be shouting the lads on as one of Ireland’s biggest fans.”
Stoke City keeper Given, who spent the majority of his club career at Newcastle United but also had stints at Aston Villa and Manchester City, had his career and service to his country neatly summed up by the FAI.
“”11,121 minutes played. 134 caps. 52 clean sheets. 3 major tournaments. 1 Shay Given #legend,” tweeted the FAI.

Ireland 'legend' Shay Given retires from international soccer

Ireland 'legend' Shay Given retires from international soccer - World Soccer Talk

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