Kevin Kilbane has spoken passionately against Declan Rice's statement, including his line that he is a 'proud Englishman': "Don't play for us then!"

Kilbane joined Nathan Murphy and Dan McDonnell on tonight's Football Show, to discuss Rice's decision to continue his international life with England.

The situation has been subject to much debate due to the existing rules for international allegiance; Rice had played three senior matches for the Republic of Ireland in friendly form.

"Think of all the players that have come through the system here, and what it means to them.

"I understand that when I came into the under-21s, there would have been a lot of people thinking "Who's this guy taking my shirt?' Yet, he's taken the shirt and he's shit all over it further down the line."

With particular regard to national allegiance and how it relates to the romantic side of the game, Kevin was unequivocal.

"If I'm 24 years of age and I get called up by England, I honestly couldn't have stood there and listened to the national anthem and have that pride that's within you. Half of the pride of playing your country is listening to the anthem knowing what it means to you and your family."

There were also questions raised over the rule that allowed Rice to change allegiance in the first place, in both the spirit and the letter of the law.

"Do I want to get on board with our rugby side where we are just nationalising people that have been in the country for 3 or 4 years? No, I do not. They are not Irish, so why are they playing for our country?"

"There is no problem in my mind in him declaring for England - I couldn't give a toss. It's no issue to me - the problem being is that he has used the shirt, auditioned for better things by playing for us.

"The rule has to change. It simply has to change, because it is a farce."

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