Gillespie eager to move on - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Gillespie eager to move on

Sheffield United winger Keith Gillespie has pleaded to be allowed to "draw a line" under his mid-air punch-up with Northern Ireland team-mate George McCartney.

Gillespie has apologised for his brawl with West Ham defender McCartney, which flared up on their country's return flight from Wednesday night's European Championship qualifying defeat to Iceland, while the Irish Football Association are to launch an investigation.

Gillespie told Ulster Television: "It was one of those things. These sort of things happen in football on training pitches all the time but obviously, this being on an aeroplane, things were a little bit different. As far I am concerned, I just want to draw a line under it and get on with my football."

The former Manchester United starlet admitted: "It was an unsavoury incident. It shouldn't have happened. Certainly it won't be happening again, as far as I am concerned.

"As I said before, I apologise to the management, staff and the fans because it is something that shouldn't have happened. Unfortunately it did. Hopefully we can put this to bed and get on with playing football."

Gillespie, who scored an own goal in the 2-1 defeat in Reykjavik which dented Northern Ireland's hopes of qualification for next year's European Championships, said the flare-up was the result of a mix-up.

"It was really just a misunderstanding over a lost passport," he said. "George and I had words and there was a coming together but, you know, the whole incident was finished within two to three seconds.

"Players came in and pulled us apart. The incident has obviously been sensationalised somewhat but certainly I don't have a problem with George. It was just a total misunderstanding that shouldn't have happened. I've texted George and have told him no hard feelings."

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