London (AFP) – Northern Ireland women's team boss Kenny Shiels has apologised after he came under fire for claiming female footballers concede goals in clusters because they are "more emotional than men". Shiels made the comment after watching his side concede four goals in 27 second-half minutes during Tuesday's 5-0 World Cup qualifying defeat by […]

London (AFP) – Northern Ireland's players will not wear commemorative poppies in their World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan on Friday, the Irish Football Association said. The football associations of England and Scotland, who meet at Wembley the same day, have decided to defy a ban by world governing body FIFA on political, commercial or religious […]

Belfast (AFP) – Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill says Wigan Athletic striker Will Grigg will miss next month's World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic while his partner gives birth. Grigg has become a cult hero with Northern Ireland fans since breaking into the international squad, with the chant "Will Grigg's on fire" a constant […]

Belfast (AFP) – When Michael O'Neill's first two games as Northern Ireland manager saw them concede nine goals and score none, it was easy to think it was business as usual for one of world football's smallest nations. With a population of under two million and no major club team, Northern Ireland remains best known […]

Belfast (AFP) – Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has urged his Euro 2016 hopefuls to prove they deserve a place on the plane to France after naming his squad for a friendly against Belarus. O'Neill's team are looking forward to their first appearance at a major tournament since the 1986 World Cup and there are […]

Day 2 of the Kicking and Screening Soccer Film Festival in New York City provided the option of watching two films that were very different in style and content. The first option was a film called Soccer For Socrates, which was about how Northern Ireland’s appearance in the 1986 World Cup united the country that […]