Declan Rice has revealed that his international switch from the Republic of Ireland to England brought some worrying threats against his and his family’s welfare.
Not surprisingly it came from online keyboard warriors who are incredibly brave within their own four walls but not quite as threatening as they sound when they start considering entering those of other people.
However, it’s a shocking commentary on our times that football and the star players’ place within it can create such behaviour.
There’s a debate to be had on the rights and wrongs of players representing one country before switching to another but that it should bring the sort of nonsense that Declan and those close to him were exposed to is outrageous.
Declan has become more and more outspoken about various issues since the season started and his readiness to to do so is to be welcomed in a world where star footballers are protected to ridiculous lengths.
Fair play to him that he’s prepared to discuss these matters but it doesn’t make the any anymore acceptable.
Yeah, I’ve had a few bad bits,” he told ITV News when asked about social media attacks.
“I’ve had people saying they’re going to come to my house…yeah online.
“There’s a few bits I could go into, but I don’t need to go into it, threats to my family, threats to me.
“You click on their profile and they’d just be a fake profile, so don’t know whether it’s true or not.
“But do you know what? I know, thinking about it now, I was never actually scared about it, because always fans are going to be giving me abuse and whatnot over it.
You just kind of look at it and laugh, you think, ‘Yeah, all right, as if you’re going to come and do that type of thing’.
“It was tough, there has been some abuse, it was more for my mum and dad really.
“They were more worried about me than anyone else, I was always quite strong minded.
“My mum obviously with me being her youngest, she was always a bit worried. Other than that, I don’t take any notice of it. I just try to keep focused.”
These trolls should be hunted down and prosecuted , social media sites should also be made to remove them immediately.
Sad world. This is football. The lad only went by the rules as they stand. I don’t know much about social media but it is hard to believe this type of thing couldn’t be traced if there was the will to do it. I am in favour of free speech but not free abuse. Tell him you don’t agree with what he did-fair enough. Threaten & abuse him or his family? Lowest of the low.
You can’t blame Irish fans for being upset. What he did was disgusting. Imagine if the shoe was on the other foot and he defected from England to Ireland. The abuse would be tenfold.
You believe threats – however empty – to his well being and perhaps his family is acceptable? which is what we are discussing
Let’s be fair here,it was the pundits and players that started this in trying to take the moral high ground.Once one person jumped on the wagon they all did.I recall James McLean and Kevin Kilbane and several others were not slow in coming forward and more recently Gary Neville has dragged the subject up again.You have to understand that Declan Rice did not make the rules and although he played a “friendly” for Ireland he was born in England.
Very good point Steve, the media too has been pretty irresponsible in whipping the stuff up
The long and the short of it is . . . where was he born?
The ridiculous rules that would have allowed Paulo to play for England are the problem not the players.
Rice played a few friendlies for ROI. He should never have been allowed to do so. The rules need changing. He is English and should only be eligible to play for England. As for an obvious Irish supporter saying what he did was disgusting, please grow up. Disgusting is sick saddoes threatening his family not a young lad changing his mind about a game of football.