Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterIt's one of the most oft-repeated pub claims: that Tony Cascarino was 'not really Irish', despite having made 88 appearances for the country over a 14-year international career.Amusing though that nugget may be, it is based on a rather peculiar set of bygone attitudes.The former Gillingham, Millwall and Marseille striker appeared at three major tournaments for the Republic of Ireland: Euro 88, plus the 1990 and 1994 World Cups.Tony Cascarino clears up Irish eligibility controversyAt the time there was a lot of nonsense peddled by English fans and media about 'plastic' Irish players who had grown up in Britain but qualified through their ancestry.And an extra wrinkle in London-born Cascarino's route to the international scene made the reaction to a 'revelation' in his autobiography that much harsher in 2000. You may like I worked as a hairdresser before joining Gillingham it was clattering Steve Bruce that earned me the contract How Tony Cascarino earned his big break in football "Jack Charlton used to tell us off for drinking Coke. He said we should drink beer because it would help us sleep better" Tony Cascarino on being part of Irelands 1990 and 1994 World Cup journey Roy Keane was the one player every country at the World Cup would have picked from our squad, so I do wonder what we could have achieved had he stayed in 2002 Matt Holland opens up on Irelands Saipan bust-up Newspapers had a field day at Cascarino revealing that his mother had been adopted by Irish parents, as if that makes any material difference to anything whatsoever.More to the point, Cascarino himself didn't even know his mother was adopted until 1996, eight years in to his international career; and she had been registered in Ireland some years before his debut, too.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Nonetheless, the fact she was not Irish by blood led Cascarino to briefly question his identity, saying his initial reaction was: "I didn't qualify for Ireland. I was a fraud. A fake Irishman."The FAI subsequently confirmed Cascarino's eligibility still would have stood because yeah, obviously it would.Cascarino now feels rather less mixed about the matter, though, as he revealed to FourFourTwo. What to read next 'Roy Keane leaving Saipan in 2002 galvanised us but Mick McCarthy wasn't right to question him in front of the squad' Ex-Republic of Ireland international Clinton Morrison gives first-hand account of famous 2002 World Cup fallout Pico Lopes interview: "Third place might be enough, football doesn't always respect the odds, there are upsets this is the stuff of dreams!" Cape Verde's Irish hero speaks to FourFourTwo Could Erling Haaland have played for England? He said: "My names Cascarino, so everybody always assumed I was Italian [in heritage]."My mum is Teresa OMalley her [adopted] family are from Mayo, in Ireland."If my name had been OMalley, not one person on the planet would have questioned me playing for Ireland - but because of my surname, everyone just assumed.My grandfather was Michael OMalley. He lived with us, but he never saw me play for Ireland."Hed have been really proud because he loved the country. I never had a second thought about it. When I got the chance to play for Ireland, I didnt hesitate. I loved it."TOPICSRepublic of IrelandSteven ChickenSocial Links NavigationSteven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication,WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.
