Martin O'Neill has explained why he did not cap Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice in a competitive game for Ireland while he was in charge of the national team.
O'Neill said that it wasn't up to him but entirely the decision of Rice, his father and agent as to what decision they would make.
Rice made three appearances for Ireland in the 2018/2019 season but all of these came in friendly matches meaning despite having played at both youth and senior level for Ireland he could switch his allegiance to England which he subsequently did.
Speaking on Premier Sports ahead of Arsenal's clash with West Ham last night, O'Neill was quizzed by presenter Eoin McDevitt as to why Rice wasn't tied down to Ireland by playing him in a competitive fixture.
O'Neill became quite animated by McDevitt's line of questioning particularly when the presenter suggested to him that by giving Rice ten minutes off the bench at the end of a competitive game he would've been 'ours'.
“You can’t do that. I’ve just tried to explain to you. I must be speaking Swahili. That would’ve been sneaking him into the game because he knew the rules beforehand.
“In terms of wanting him to play for Ireland, of course we did, but in terms of him wanting to play for Ireland, different issue,” he said.
Martin O'Neill gets frustrated as he attempts to explain Rice decision
McDevitt then replied by asking O'Neill whether he regretted not picking him and essentially forcing Rice to make the decision at that point.
“Not at all, no. You can't do this. You cannot do this...he wouldn't.
“Eoin I’m definitely not getting through to you.
“We weren’t going to tie him down. It’s a competitive game so you have to go and pick the side. First of all, he knows what a competitive game is, I think we all know what a competitive game is and what a friendly match is so he sees a competitive game coming up and I’m saying ‘oh by the way you’re just a sub here tonight but you might just get on in the last ten minutes of the game’ he’s going to say no.”
McDevitt then asked why O'Neill opted to play Rice in friendly matches.
“I was hoping that in the friendly matches that we played he would take a great liking to the senior side and then maybe make his mind up then.
“He has to make his mind up, the choice is his, his father’s and his agents. That (playing for England) was the choice.”
You can watch the full robust exchange here:
Martin O’Neill was on the Premier Sports panel last night for Arsenal v West Ham, we talked about Declan Rice’s decision to choose England over Republic of Ireland (1/2) pic.twitter.com/wXdD7PKKU9
— Eoin McDevitt (@EoinMcDevitt) December 29, 2023
Martin O’Neill talking Declan Rice with me on Premier Sports last night (2/2) pic.twitter.com/2BkmodDSTG
— Eoin McDevitt (@EoinMcDevitt) December 29, 2023
Rice and his Arsenal side ultimately came out on the losing side as his former club took a 2-0 victory at The Emirates.
SEE ALSO: Thomas Frank Could Only Smile After Nathan Collins Disaster Class
