Gordon Strachan insists he has no issue with the Tartan Army booing Irish duo Aiden McGeady and James McCarthy — as long as it is on purely footballing grounds. Both players were born in Glasgow but opted to use family ties to represent the Republic of Ireland. While playing in Scotland with Celtic and Hamilton, respectively, they suffered abuse at the hands of rival fans. James McCarthy (left) in action for Everton on Saturday afternoon, pictured alongside Bafetimbi Gomis Now Everton team-mates in the English Premier League, however, Strachan has seen the duo attract huge transfer fees since and believes any abuse from the Scotland support in next week’s Euro 2016 qualifier at Parkhead will be a testament to their footballing abilities.
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Aiden McGeady and James McCarthy were both born in Glasgow
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They elected to play for the Republic of Ireland through family ties
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The pair have been booed by Scottish fans on a number of occasions
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Ireland play Scotland at Parkhead on November 14
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Gordon Strachan says he is happy for the pair to be booed as long as it is purely based on footballing ability
Addressing claims that previous abuse of McGeady and McCarthy might have betrayed a strain of anti-Irish sentiment in @placeholder football, Strachan believes it might now happen for a different reason.
If you feel Irish, then you play for Ireland and, if you feel you are @placeholder, then you play for Scotland.