Four years later, Rice made his decision to play for England. Concurrently there was an unfolding crisis in the FAI with financial scandals surrounding the long-time chief executive John Delaney. Ironically, Delaney was forced to stand down the very same month Rice made his England debut – March 2019.
It felt strangely personal at the time, prompting me to ask the question: If I had an English-born son who was in the same situation as Rice, with all that is going on in Ireland, versus the stability of Gareth Southgate, how would I advise him?
A sense of nationality is packed full of nuance. In Ireland, I never felt Irish enough, with my father having served in the Royal Navy. Yet living and working in London for more than seven years, I feel defined by my Irishness. So, I can empathise with players who in their boyhoods may have clung on to the Irishness passed down to them, but then as young adults develop a stronger affinity for the country of their birth.
Something so personal should not be booed, instead Irish football fans should be reflecting on the previous catastrophic administration of their sport, how a hopefully better era for Irish football is ahead and get behind today’s team. This may be a stretch but try to be proud that our diaspora’s children are so coveted by the old enemy for their footballing prowess.