Tits up for Wortho?

[Tevez]

Last Updated: Thursday, 13 September 2007, 12:48 GMT 13:48 UK

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N Ireland players brawl on plane

N Ireland players Keith Gillespie (left) and George McCartney

Northern Ireland stars Keith Gillespie and George McCartney were involved in a fight on an aeroplane before it flew the team from Iceland to London.

The altercation came after a verbal exchange and punches were thrown before other players were forced to intervene.

Cabin crew staff reported the incident to Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington before the flight took off.

The Irish Football Association plans to take action following the incident that came hours after a Euro 2008 qualifier.

"An incident occurred today between team members of the senior Northern Ireland squad of which the president (Raymond Kennedy) and chief executive (Howard Wells) are aware of," said an IFA statement.

"Both the president and the chief executive will investigate the situation and take appropriate action."

Northern Ireland's hopes of making the Euro 2008 finals are fading after Gillespie's late own goal gave Iceland a 2-1 victory in Reykjavik.

The Sheffield United winger made his international debut in 1994 and scored twice in 78 appearances.

West Ham defender McCartney, who ended a 26-month exile when Worthington took over from Lawrie Sanchez, won his 25th cap in Wednesday night's Group F game.

[lildave3]

It was all going so well, then he took over.

[Finnegan]

Good. I hate the Northern Irish more than I hate you lot, tbh. Worst bunch of away fans we've ever hosted.

[Geo V]

It was all going so well, then he took over.

They were over achieving, especially from some very good home form and they have ended up losing two away from home thanks to own goals. I think Wortho will stay on but thats them done for another competition.

[Joe.]

:laugh:

What a day for Gillespie eh.

[Geo V]

:laugh:

What a day for Gillespie eh.

Keith Gillespie firmly believes Northern Ireland's bid to reach Euro 2008 is still alive and kicking

[DB11]

They were probably bad mouthing him for his 90th minute own goal :laugh:

[Sparky]

Good. I hate the Northern Irish more than I hate you lot, tbh. Worst bunch of away fans we've ever hosted.

no way ! cant remember the welsh ever singing "as long as we beat the northern irish "

[Finnegan]

no way ! cant remember the welsh ever singing "as long as we beat the northern irish "

Mate they were rude, violent and dragged sectarianism into Cardiff. No excuse for it. I'm an easy going type, but I'm holding a grudge against their football support until I'm given good reason otherwise.

[Bert]

Out of the home nations i hate the jocks the most.

[Finnegan]

Narh, the Jocks are just miserable, have a grudge whenever someone else is winning and are poor winners when it's them, hehe. But I don't mind as they get on alright with us.

The Northern Ireland fans are the only fans I've seen cause real trouble in the streets of Cardiff, are the only fans I've known boo our players for the religious connotations of the club they play for and generally give us grief.

[Bert]

Narh, the Jocks are just miserable, have a grudge whenever someone else is winning and are poor winners when it's them, hehe. But I don't mind as they get on alright with us.

The Northern Ireland fans are the only fans I've seen cause real trouble in the streets of Cardiff, are the only fans I've known boo our players for the religious connotations of the club they play for and generally give us grief.

Exactly why i don't like them.

Ther's a lot of sectarinsm involved with the NI fans, just look at all that business that went off with Lennon because he was playing for a catholic supporting club.

[Finnegan]

Another reason I hate them. Twats.

[Smudge]

Here's another account of events link

[Kent Fox]

So, Finners hates the following because:

NI - rudeness. Obviously you have never been / cannot be English in North Wales.

Scots - miserable. Err...Ditto

England - praps because we beat them a lot.

Do you like anybody, Mr Finnegan??

[Finnegan]

I'd like to point out I'm talking about football fans, here. The every Joe O'Bloggs on the street, I don't have a problem with, the NI support are a fooking disgrace to football. And I don't hate the Jocks, I was just saying I can understand why other people do.

& I really, really loathe all that "zomg North Welsh so rude, they only talk Welsh to piss us off!" stuff. Really ludicrous. You don't go to France and complain that they weren't speaking English everywhere.

[Kent Fox]

I'd like to point out I'm talking about football fans, here. The every Joe O'Bloggs on the street, I don't have a problem with, the NI support are a fooking disgrace to football. And I don't hate the Jocks, I was just saying I can understand why other people do.

& I really, really loathe all that "zomg North Welsh so rude, they only talk Welsh to piss us off!" stuff. Really ludicrous. You don't go to France and complain that they weren't speaking English everywhere.

Not that I want to get into a heavy discussion here, but the last time I looked, France wasn't in the UK!! So not an argument at all. And it does happen. Which is why I go to South Wales.

And I did realise it was footy fans you were on about. I should have re-phrased my opener.

[Finnegan]

And North Wales isn't in England, the home of English, it's in Wales... the home of (err...) Welsh. Funny that.

[Head Honcho]

They were probably bad mouthing him for his 90th minute own goal :laugh:

No Way?

[Head Honcho]

Out of the home nations i hate the jocks the most.

[Finnegan]

Haha. We sort of bring it on ourselves. Last time Wales played Scotland (4 - 0, Earnie, you beauty) it was a competition to see who could sing "We hate England more than you!" the most.

[Sparky]

oh the home nations i wouldnt say i "hate" any of them . all of them get on my nerves every now and again but when any of them play i never wish it on them to lose unless there playing england

[Kent Fox]

And North Wales isn't in England, the home of English, it's in Wales... the home of (err...) Welsh. Funny that.

Oh, don't get me started.

I did not say England - I said UK.

And if those in North Wales (or South Wales for that matter) want to speak Welsh - fine by me.

Then we count them out of being a part of the (English-speaking)UK and let them fend for themselves.

I wonder how long it would be before they started speaking English again? Not ****ing long as they won't be able to do any business. (Ok - a bit pedantic, but read between the lines a bit)

And it's such a (presumably) difficult language to learn (for anyone NOT Welsh), who's going to vist the place? Tourism goes down the pan. And then, you get over-run by sheep because no English speaking person can buy them. And then what???

Ok, so that's all a bit OTT - but you get my drift.

[Webbo]

oh the home nations i wouldnt say i "hate" any of them . all of them get on my nerves every now and again but when any of them play i never wish it on them to lose unless there playing england

Agreed, this home nation rivalry is far more important to them than us.

[Finnegan]

Kent Fox, I've had this discussion with quite a lot of people. Ask someone whose been around this forum a bit and they'll probably confirm I've had it about a zillion times on this board alone. But that's got to be one of the stupidest counter-statements I've ever read. Your nation annexed mine, in doing so you brought in laws to deny our culture, our history and our language. Nearly worked, too. We've no way near the same degree of fight and anger amongst the Welsh in the modern day as there is in Irish and probably even Scottish communities, that's why they're leagues closer to independent governance than we are nowadays.

I don't know whether I believe in Welsh separatism any more, but I do believe in free will. And if the people in North Wales, or anywhere else in the country, want to use their native language, their original language, the OLDEST existing language in EUROPE - then they should be encouraged to do so. Because what does it hurt you? It's not their fault a few ignorant, bigoted and misinformed cnuts from this side of the boarder want to go over to their oh-so-quaint little holiday homes and expect the locals to behave JUST like they do back in little Englandshire. I've got news for you, boyo, they don't just switch languages the second they hear your accent or see your England shirt. They watch the TV in Welsh, they read in the paper in Welsh, they learn history, geography and maths in Welsh and by God I pray they continue.

We didn't ask to be annexed, we didn't ask to be shit on by centuries of English tyrants and we certainly didn't ask you to out-law our identity. But we have spent near 300 years (relatively) peacefully co-operating, aiding and otherwise assisting the British Empire and if your (and, now, as it is also our) goverment chooses to reward that with the Welsh Language Act and, the Welsh Assembly and the hopefully forthcoming Welsh parliament then - you know what? That's good enough for me. Not good enough for you? Fine. We didn't ask you to go camping in Snowdon anyway.