Rangers hero Kyle Lafferty insists he was 'flung under the bus' with the way his sectarian remark situation was handled.
In September 2022, the forward - who was attached to Kilmarnock at the time - was caught on camera making sectarian remarks in a Belfast nightclub while away on international duty.
He subsequently received a 10-game ban from the Scottish FA and has not been recalled to the Northern Ireland national team set-up since.
He served his ban before making a comeback at Killie in January 2023. He was suddenly let go by the Ayrshire side at the end of that month.
Lafferty accepts it was his mistake, however, he believes it wasn't handled in the best way.
"I'm not going to sit here and blame anyone else, the words came out of my mouth," the 37-year-old told BBC NI. "It could have been handled better slightly, maybe.
"I felt I was flung under the bus in a way."
He added: "Never getting a call-up since, was it down to that video? I don't know."
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Meanwhile, the nomadic striker - who now turns out for Scottish sixth-tier side Johnstone Burgh - admits he has some major regrets about his career, particularly on the international front.
Lafferty scored 20 goals in 89 caps for Northern Ireland, his goals helping the country qualify for Euro 2016, having also won three Scottish Premiership titles with Rangers.
He said: "[I] didn't turn up at times when I should have.
"Not reaching a 100 caps, I blame myself for it, I should be well into a 100. I wouldn't change my career for a second but there are disappointments.
"Deciding to go on holiday instead of playing for your country at times. This was like when I was 21, 22, 23, just knowing that I'd done well previously and that I'd get another call-up, taking liberties like I said.
"Maybe throwing in an injury where the rest of the team I was at might have been getting a few days off and taking the days off rather than going to play for your country."
When asked to confirm he had feigned injury at times, he said: "I wasn't injured, yeah, just stuff like that.
"Just daft stuff that you look back and think 'It was just so stupid of me'."
Lafferty was pleased to reveal that he was back on track after a gambling relapse earlier this year.
He said: "I think I started when I was 12 and my last bet was six months ago.
"I was off it for three and a half years. Addiction is addiction.
"If you don't follow your programs or control your addictions you fall back into and unfortunately I fell back into it.
"I went and got proper help from the right people and I'm now coming up to six months clean again."
