Citat:
Ursprungligen postat av vonSlyna
Har jag fel om att George Best slutade som 26-åring?
Enlig Wikipedia spelade han i landslaget tills han var 33.
Stephen Ireland slutade när han var 21 (!). Detta är bakgrunden enlig Wikipedia:
Citat:
In September 2007, Ireland was at the centre of controversy when, in the immediate aftermath of a Republic of Ireland international match and days before their crunch game against the Czechs, coach Steve Staunton informed him of a telephone call just received from his girlfriend reporting the death of his maternal grandmother. On returning the call Staunton was able to ascertain that this was in fact a fabrication designed to excuse Ireland from international duty and allow him to return home with minimal opposition. Now consigned to deceit Ireland confirmed the dead grandmother story to Staunton who quickly consented to Ireland's compassionate leave on these grounds, a private jet was chartered for his return.
However the media quickly discovered that Ireland's grandmother was not dead, at which point Ireland announced it was his paternal grandmother who died but yet again, reporters discovered that Ireland's paternal grandmother was also still alive, and her relatives had threatened to sue one newspaper that reported her death. Ireland changed his story again, saying one of his grandfathers had divorced and it was his second wife who had died. That was also quickly discovered to be untrue.[20]
Ireland eventually came out with the truth, admitting he had invented a reason to leave the Irish team in order to visit his girlfriend in Cork, who had a miscarriage. "I decided at that stage that I must tell the truth and admit I had told lies," Ireland said. "I realise now it was a massive mistake to say my grandmothers had died and I deeply regret it."[21]
Irish coach Staunton was furious at Ireland. The coach's mood wasn't helped by the fact Ireland lost 1–0 to the Czechs, which effectively ended their hopes of qualifying for the Euro 2008 championships. Ireland said his girlfriend had miscarried and that "caused us to panic." The FAI as well as football fans over the country were left to wonder why he hadn't simply told the truth, as a miscarriage would have been sufficient to allow Ireland compassionate leave.
"Jessica (his girlfriend) said she was very lonely and wanted me to come home. She thought they might let me home quicker if they thought my grandmother had died," Ireland explained.
He has not played for Ireland since this controversy.
