Pat Dolan's shameful column in today's Irish Star should never have been given print space. The outspoken St. Pat's boss reckons that Phil Babb and Jason McAteer should have never been picked for Ireland because they are not Irish.

While Babb made a mistake last week while out on the town with Mark Kennedy and was justifiably sent home, that should be the end of the story and things should get back to normal but this will never be allowed to happen with high-profile people like Dolan spouting off.

Why in god's name should they not pull on the green shirt if they decide that they have a better chance of making the team if they do so. Babb makes no secret that he never wanted to play for any other international team since his childhood so what gives Dolan the right to say he is not Irish.

Dolan's reasoning is hard to fathom. He said: "Many say Babb should never play for Ireland again. I say he should never have played in the first place. The same must be said for Jason McAteer - not because he or Babb have no right to play, but simply because in my eyes neither man is Irish.

"That is the real issue here. For many, being born outside of Ireland does not disqualify them from representing their country because they understand what Irishness is all about. Alan Kelly and Gary Breen are perfect examples of this.

"Babb and McAteer are examples of a different culture - the baseball cap, walkman and Spice Boy image. Was it always an ambition of theirs when they were growing up to wear the green shirt, or do they view playing for Ireland as an easy passport to international football?

"It is time for Irish players to once again appreciate what a privilege it is to play for their country, and time for Babb and McAteer to apply to FIFA to change the rules so that they play for theirs."

How about John Aldridge and Ray Houghton for starters. Neither would have played for Ireland if their countries of birth had picked them first but when they did they gave their all for the cause time and time again.

Dolan's reasoning is nonsense in the extreme. What does he want? Players turning up to for Ireland with flat caps and wellingtons to prove their Irishness. Cop on Dolan and don't be so stupid.