McCartney quits N.Ireland

McCartney: Retired by text

Defender George McCartney has retired from international football, frustrated Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington has confirmed.

"He has tried to contact me a few times since but I have not accepted the calls because he doesn't want to play for his country."
Nigel Worthington. Quotes of the week

The Sunderland player, who is currently on loan at Leeds, missed Ireland's unimpressive 3-0 defeat to Scotland in the Nations Cup on Wednesday.

In the wake of the loss in Dublin, Worthington has revealed that McCartney, 29, sent a text message to confirm his desire to quit, having previously been coaxed out of retirement in 2007.

"The situation is straightforward," Northern Ireland's manager said.

Text message

"George McCartney sent a text message to one of my coaching staff to say he no longer wished to play international football.

"At some stage someone must have had a word with him to say it might be a good idea to speak to me, so I got a call from him on Monday morning.

"That was the end of it. He has tried to contact me a few times since but I have not accepted the calls because he doesn't want to play for his country.

"That is his decision and as far as I am concerned the matter is closed."