REPUBLIC of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill said Stephen Ward's international career was not at risk following a leaked account of a bust-up between assistant Roy Keane and Harry Arter and Jon Walters.
The Clarets defender, who won his 50th cap against Wales last week but returned to Burnley ahead of last night's friendly with Poland with a foot injury, found himself at the centre of a storm when a recording of his version of the international row made it into the public domain.
Audi footage emerged of Ward's version of the training ground altercation, which happened ahead of a friendly with France in May when the 33-year-old wasn't in the Ireland squad, but O'Neill disputed those details ahead of the Poland game and said it differed from the account given to him by Keane.
But asked if it may have implications for Ward's international career, O'Neill said: "Absolutely not.
"If he’s fit to play and come with us, he’ll be there. I assume he’s apologised for himself and I think he’s spoken to Roy as well.
"I have no problem with that. It will only be age and ability which prevents him coming to the next squads. But the answer is no."
However O'Neill was unimpressed that Ward's account had reached the public domain and said he'd been 'betrayed' by some friends.
“Do I have sympathy or empathy for a 33-year-old who has known about social media for a lengthy time and says he’s just telling it to a crowd of mates? Today… probably not. Tomorrow… probably not also," he said.
"He has been betrayed by some of his friends, who he has known for a long, long time. That will be a disappointment for him."
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