Source: FOOTYMAD
Ferguson Snubs Pleas From Manager!
Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington is not getting any reply from Toon full-back Shane Ferguson, so he expects him to switch to the Republic of Ireland team. You would think the very least the 19-year old would do is answer his phone ... but that is not the case. Yet I'm sure the youngster found the right button on his phone when Alan Pardew phoned to say he was starting in the match against Chelsea. The Newcastle United player is a full Northern Ireland international. But Fifa rules mean he could yet switch allegiance to the south. The rulebook allows a player to only be committed to a certain country once they have played competitive senior international football for them. Ferguson’s solitary cap was against Italy, in June 2009. The 1998 Good Friday Agreement allows those born in Northern Ireland to claim either British or Irish nationality. Northern Ireland manager Worthington wants to see the rule changed. Nigel Worthington: “It needs to be more black and white – to put all the indecision to bed once and for all. “It’s frustrating and disappointing that a lot of time, energy, commitment and finance goes into these players over a period of years and then when they are 17, 18, 19 or even 20, there is the opportunity for them, because of the ruling, to vacate to another country. “There is a good production line here and to lose them is disappointing. “I’ve left voicemails, text messages and made random calls to Shane but at no time did we get a reply.”
