'A lot to answer for’: Portsmouth boss takes aim at EFL with Blackburn Rovers boss at centre of ‘conflict of interest’ storm
Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill’s decisions over players featuring for Pompey, West Brom, Oxford United and sides facing Blackburn Rovers’ relegation rivals have seen questions asked - and John Mousinho setting he sights on the EFL.
John Mousinho believes the EFL have questions to answer over questions over a potential ‘conflict of interest’ for Northern Ireland and Blackburn Rovers boss Michael O’Neill.
And the Pompey boss believes his Championship relegation peers could be ‘calling foul’ this weekend over international selection decisions made by O’Neill.
Pompey boss: ‘The league have a lot to answer for on this one’
Mousinho has made it clear he has no issue with the 56-year-old and insisted he sees O’Neill as a man of ‘great integrity’.
But the head coach has forcefully queried how the EFL have allowed the second-tier relegation battle to be, in his eyes, potentially compromised by calls made by the former Stoke boss on the international stage.
That comes as a trio of players - Norwich’s Ruairi McConville, Preston’s Ali McCann and Hull’s Paddy McNair - missed Northern Ireland’s clash with Wales on Tuesday before potentially facing Blackburn’s relegation rivals on Good Friday.
Meanwhile, a quartet of Oxford United players remained with the country with three involved in the 1-1 draw in Cardiff. Fellow strugglers West Brom saw Isaac Price play, while Pompey’s Terry Devlin featured for 80 minutes.
The only Blackburn player in the Northern Ireland squad, Tom Atcheson, played for the final 10 minutes against Craig Bellamy’s side.
Mousinho said: ‘The fact that we’re talking about it and the fact the question’s been asked means it’s a potential conflict of interest.
‘It’s blatantly obvious to me, it’s a question which should never be asked of another head coach.
‘I don’t think the media or I should be put in that situation, I don’t think Michael O’Neill should be put in a situation where his integrity is questioned.
‘I know Michael well and he will make decisions for the best for Northern Ireland and Blackburn, but the fact the question’s asked suggests to me there’s a problem.
‘It’s not even the fact that the players have been sent home, it’s the fact that it’s been allowed. Somebody has been put in that position where they are allowed to make those decisions. That’s the fundamental issue.
‘I feel for Michael more than anyone, because it’s through no fault of his own.
‘He was allowed to take the job and he’s not going to do any different, but maybe nobody scrutinised it enough at the time.
‘There’s probably going to be a few people calling foul this weekend over potential selection decisions made, who was sent home and who wasn’t.
‘We don’t know what’s going on, but the question being asked means it’s potentially problematic. I think Michael is a man of great integrity, but no one knows and no one will know.
‘I think the team selection is the best thing Michael thinks he can do for Northern Ireland, I have no problem with that.
‘But the fact it has a knock-on effect and the fact it has a consequence means that question should never be there.
‘Players play international games we all know they play internationals, but we should never be looking at the situation everyone’s been put into.
‘So it’s a question for the league. For clarity, I’m not questioning Michael’s integrity - he’s an excellent manager and great person - but the league have a lot to answer for on this one.’