• Internationals

Harte blasts 'clown' Trapattoni

ESPN staff
February 5, 2013
Ian Harte last represented his country in 2007 © PA Photos
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Reading left-back Ian Harte has labelled Giovanni Trapattoni a "clown" on Twitter over his failure to consider him for Republic of Ireland.

Harte, 35, earned the last of his 63 Ireland caps in 2007 and has not been considered for selection since Trapattoni took the reins in 2008.

The former Leeds and Levante defender tweeted: "To all the people asking if I have retired from international football. No I haven't. Trap didn't even know I was Irish #whataclown"

The comments echo remarks Harte made to the Sunday Independent in Ireland in 2011, when he criticised the management for a lack of respect.

"I was speaking to a player recently and he said he spoke to the manager and the assistant manager and they said they didn't even know that I was Irish, so obviously they haven't done their homework," he said. "I've played 63 times and scored 11 goals and you would think the people that are still involved around the set-up would have told them.

"It just goes to show that they don't even come across to have a look at any games that I've played. They're bringing players like Simon Cox in who has made his debut and other players as well, so it's pretty frustrating that he doesn't bother coming over."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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