UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Lennon quits international scene

Northern Ireland's Neil Lennon has retired from international football after a death threat.

Family in danger 
A warning was phoned to BBC Belfast, allegedly from the Loyalist Volunteer Force, claiming the Celtic FC player and his family would be in danger if he turned out in the match at Windsor Park. It is not the first time Lennon has been singled out for sectarian abuse because he is a Catholic and plays for Celtic, a club with strong Catholic ties.

'Pretty upsetting' 
"I have my parents and my daughter to think about and I can't put them through this every time there is an international," said Lennon, 31, who had been made captain in the absence of Steve Lomas. "It's been pretty upsetting. It was going to be a big night for me, going out to captain Northern Ireland, but it wasn't to be."

'Time to leave' 
"I've thought long and hard about this and although I've enjoyed my career in international football, I think it is time to leave," he added. "I probably won't play again. It's not only my parents and my family but this is taking the focus away from the team. Obviously it is not the first time this has happened. Three police officers came to the team hotel and told me about the call to the BBC about an attack on myself. There was no time given but we presumed it would be during the game."

Police investigating 
The LVF today issued a statement claiming they made the threat. The Police Service of Northern Ireland has not revealed whether they consider the threat to be the work of the terror group or a hoax by a bigoted individual. "We would not discuss the security of any individual," said a spokesman.

Selected for you