Liverpool legend John Aldridge has expressed strong criticism of Declan Rice and Jack Grealish for their decision to switch international allegiances from the Republic of Ireland to England.
The two players faced backlash during England's 2-0 win over Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, where they were booed after scoring.
While Grealish played for Ireland at the youth level before switching to represent England, Rice had previously earned three senior caps for Ireland.
In a Sunday World editorial, Aldridge—who was born in England but opted to represent Ireland because of his ancestry—expressed his sadness.
“It was bad enough watching England toy with Ireland without seeing Rice and Grealish score against a team they once represented,” Aldridge lamented.
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“What those two lads did was not right on so many levels. Pulling on a green jersey is a privilege, and they’ve shown massive disrespect.”
Reflecting on his own career, John Aldridge recalled how he eagerly accepted the chance to play for Ireland when offered by Jack Charlton. He stressed that earning an Ireland cap should inspire loyalty and criticized Declan Rice for switching to England after only a few appearances for Ireland.
While Aldridge acknowledged that Jack Grealish’s situation was somewhat different due to his involvement at the youth level, he maintained that once players commit to an international team, they should not be allowed to switch allegiances.
In response to the hostile reception in Dublin, Grealish remarked that he and Rice anticipated the reaction, stating, “I have a lot of Irish in my family, so there’s no bad blood whatsoever from my side.” Rice added that it was a “good afternoon” despite the atmosphere.
Aldridge’s comments reignite the debate over national representation and player loyalty in football.
