Ally McCoist has suggested that Declan Rice’s decision to switch international allegiance to represent England highlights a flaw in the system.
The 20-year-old announced that he had decided to represent the Three Lions from now on via his personal Twitter account on Wednesday, despite having already played three friendlies for the Republic of Ireland.
Speaking on talkSPORT, former Scottish international McCoist suggested that the decision exhibited a loophole.
He said: “All Declan Rice has done is used a flaw in the system. There’s no way this should be allowed to happen.
“You play for the 16s or 17s, I get it, but there should be no difference between playing a friendly at full international level and playing in a competition at full international level, because you’ve got to remember, those boys who are going for a pint on a Friday, who would give their anything, their hind teeth, to play for their country, you try telling them there’s a difference. Rubbish.
“The fact of the matter is that as soon as you play a full international for that country, that’s your decision made.”
"The minute you pull on the Ireland shirt, you're Irish. You've made your decision."
"It's not a career move… you play for your country."
Dean Saunders and Ally McCoist debate Declan Rice switching his international allegiances and the rules that allow him to do so. pic.twitter.com/fplvX7Rdxe
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) February 14, 2019
OPINION
McCoist is right that the system makes no sense. By suggesting that players may only be tied down to a country after having played a competitive international for them, FIFA are essentially admitting that friendlies are pretty much worthless. If that’s the case, then should players be awarded caps for friendly matches in the first place? Obviously the answer is yes, but it highlights a flawed logic at the very least. Amongst all of this, however, it is important to remember that Rice has done nothing wrong. The system may be questionable, but that’s not his fault, and it’s vital that he doesn’t become the poster boy for some kind of witch hunt. McCoist’s tone is balanced, and recognises that Rice is not to blame, but certain other pundits, especially those of the old guard have already spoken out in disdain when all Rice has done is elected to play for the county of his birth.
