Shamrock Rovers XI vs Brazil

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An association football friendly match was played in Lansdowne Road in Dublin in July 1973 between Brazil and a team billed as Shamrock Rovers XI, made up of international players from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Brazil won the match 4-3.

1 Background
2 Line Ups
- 2.1 Shamrock Rovers XI
- 2.2 Brazil
3 External links

[edit] Background

The match was played at the height of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and was intended as a gesture of friendship and solidarity. Louis Kilcoyne persuaded João Havelange of the Brazilian FA to include a match against an "Ireland XI" on the itinerary for their 9-match summer tour of Europe, reportedly promising him the FAI's vote in the 1974 election for President of FIFA.

Johnny Giles captain of the Republic team and Derek Dougan of Northern Ireland were friendly with each other, supported the project, and persuaded many of their respective teammates to participate.

The IFA was opposed to the match, seeing it as setting a precedent which might encourage moves for the IFA to merge with the FAI. In deference to these concerns, the "Ireland XI" was rebilled as a Shamrock Rovers selection, after the leading League of Ireland club connected to the Kilcoyne family. (In actuality, all the team played in the English League.) Also, only the Brazilian national anthem and flag were displayed, although A Nation Once Again was among the tunes in the pre-match entertainment.

Derek Dougan never played for Northern Ireland again and alleged that IFA President Harry Cavan had instructed manager Terry Neill not to pick him because of this match. However, at 35, he was in any case in the twilight of his career.