The Northern Ireland Women’s football team have backed manager Kenny Shiels despite the controversy over his claim that his team conceded goals because women are too emotional.
The 65-year-old apologised after uproar over his response to England’s 5-0 World Cup qualification victory against his team on Tuesday night.
But a statement released by captain Marissa Callaghan, on behalf of the team, unreservedly backed Shiels and described him as a “man of integrity”.
"In light of recent events, collectively we stand by our manager,” she wrote.
“We feel his interview was in relation to a meeting we had as a team where we analysed that we concede goals in quick succession and emotions was one of the many things we discussed.
"Since Kenny took over our national team three years ago, I have always complimented him publicly on how he can get the best out of his players individually and collectively. He is a man of integrity who cares for us like we are family.
"Kenny has transformed the game here in Northern Ireland because he understands how to get the best out of his players. We have qualified for a major tournament because he transformed our mindset.
"We look forward to the next few months as we continue to prepare for the Euros this summer. Selling out the National Stadium has been a pivotal moment for the game here in NI and we as players and staff will continue as a team to help grow the game and inspire the next generation of young players and fans.”
A number of figures from within the game and politics had hit back at Shiels over his claims.
He had said: “In the women’s game you’ll have noticed if you go through the patterns, when a team concedes a goal they concede a second one within a very short period of time.
“Right through the whole spectrum of the women’s game, because girls and women are more emotional than men, so they take a goal going in not very well.”
