OPINION
There’s shambolic, and then there’s shambolic, but the FAI’s decision to award Declan Rice their Young Player of the Year award might just bring a whole new meaning to the word. The governing body, as confirmed in a statement in the Irish Times, has chosen to give the accolade to the West Ham midfielder for his performances in 2018 after a vote by football writers. Ultimately, however, this is asking to be mocked. Rice made his decision to switch international allegiances not too long ago, and since there has been a widespread and well-documented debate surrounding his decision that either portrays Rice as a villain or the Republic of Ireland as slightly inept. Now, if we’re being honest, the 20-year-old probably deserves the award, but to give him it after the has made such a high profile snub to the country is just daft. Rice is no longer an Irish player. Yes, he may have excelled during his spell with the Republic, but he has moved on, and so should they. More than anything, giving him the title suggests that there was literally nobody else they could think of to give it to, and that doesn’t bode well for the future of Irish football. This is just another ridiculous chapter in an already well-played out saga, and honestly, you couldn’t make it up.
Forever West Ham have gathered some of the best tweets below:
https://twitter.com/glennbriggs65/status/1105502525480792064
— Mark (@Stanwhu1) March 12, 2019
Agree I'm a west ham fan but he shouldn't be getting any award from the fai
— Conor O'Reilly (@ConorOR60485412) March 12, 2019
Is this a last ditch ploy before rice gets picked for the euro's qualifications in a few weeks 😂
— dan_whufc_twit (@dan_whufc_twit) March 12, 2019
https://twitter.com/hadleytom88/status/1105500258870677504
Cryinggggg https://t.co/RE1RMUNsxw
— West Ham (C)entral 🏆 (@WestHam_Central) March 12, 2019
HAHA
— Josh⚒🫧 (@JoshVernege) March 12, 2019
https://twitter.com/LouieWansell82/status/1105512562689482753
