REPUBLIC OF IRELAND captain Katie McCabe has moved to dismiss rumours of a potential move to Lyon.
Ireland's Katie McCabe. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
McCabe signed a new deal with Arsenal last year but a report from The Athletic says that Lyon have identified McCabe as a โfirm targetโ this summer.
The Dubliner said the speculation is โreally niceโ but stated that she is an โArsenal playerโ and emphasised her respect for the fans and the club who she joined in 2015.
The Ireland skipper missed her sideโs Euro 2025 qualifier against England last week due to suspension, and insisted that her focus is on her international duty this week as Eileen Gleesonโs side welcome France to Pรกirc Uรญ Chaoimh.
โIโve obviously full concentration on being with Ireland and our game prep for tomorrow,โ she told the media at Cork GAAโs home ground where her team will train today before tomorrowโs crucial game. France are aiming to top the group while Ireland are concentrating on securing a seeded place for play-offs.
โIโve seen the rumours and for a club like Lyon to be interested, itโs really nice, but Iโm an Arsenal player. I have been for a long time and full respect to my Arsenal fans and teammates and the club as a whole and thatโs the way itโll be.โ
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Lyon won their 17th French title last season and reached the Champions League final this year where they were denied a ninth crown following a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona.
When asked by The42 if McCabe is happy at Arsenal, she replied:
โAs I said, Iโm an Arsenal player coming up to nearly nine years now. I love the club, I love what we have been able to do and the trajectory we went on. As I said, Iโm an Arsenal player and thatโs about it really, yeah.โ
McCabe in action for Arsenal. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
McCabe returns in the wake of a joint investigation by the Sunday Independent and RTร into alleged historical abuse in Irish football. Women involved in the sport in the 1990s have made allegations of unwanted sexual advances, sexual abuse and bullying by a number of male coaches. The RTร Investigates: Girls In Green documentary was aired last week while a Garda investigation is underway. The coaches in question deny the allegations.
Denise OโSullivan expressed her solidarity with the women who made the allegations while McCabe echoed her teammateโs position and said she found the documentary difficult to watch.
โI felt a lot of different emotions. I really felt for the players coming out and sharing their story. To have the courage to do that after so long, 20-25 years I think it was, the courage theyโve shown to come out and speak about those things that should never, ever have happened while those women were playing football and doing so to ensure it never happens again.โ
McCabe continued by saying that she is โluckyโ that she never experienced anything similar in terms of treatment throughout her own playing career and noted that safeguarding protocols are in place for the current national team. She also explained that although she has not communicated with the women involved, she has sent a message to the group via Stephen McGuinness of the PFAI.
McCabe added that she is happy to be available for selection again for Ireland after the conclusion of her one-match ban. The England game offered her a โdifferent perspectiveโ as an observer rather than a participant in the game in Norwich. When asked to elaborate on how she engaged with the team, she said โthey are kind of things I will keep to myself,โ but added that she accepted her position and was happy to support the team.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
โAll in all I was really, really happy with Julie-Ann Russell coming back in, [after] four years [away], baby Rosie, and she gets the goal, which the whole team deserved. We were absolutely thrilled for her.
โSheโs [Rosie] been in with us since Monday last week. She didnโt travel to England, but itโs really, really nice. I think Eileen and the staff have done a great job integrating Julie-Ann and her partner and baby Rosie in. Theyโve got our full support. Itโs really nice to come into the meal room and see Rosie. All the girls love it. Sheโs got lots of new aunties.โ
Cork is alive with excitement at the moment as the county prepares for the hurlers to contest the All-Ireland final against Clare this Sunday. Some 14,500 tickets have been sold for the France game, and McCabe is eager to provide the locals with another major sporting fixture to immerse themselves in at Pรกirc Uรญ Chaoimh.
โIโm really excited. Iโve never played in Cork before at senior level. Iโve heard good things from the older girls, of course, Denise OโSullivan in particular. Weโre not in Dublin for the first time in quite some time, I think itโs over 10 years maybe, but Iโm excited. Itโs been a nice feel around the town.
โWe know there is a big appetite for it so all I can say to the people of Cork is to come out and come support us, come watch us and cheer us on for a really exciting game.โ
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Lyon rumours of interest 'really nice' but I'm an Arsenal player - McCabe
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND captain Katie McCabe has moved to dismiss rumours of a potential move to Lyon.
McCabe signed a new deal with Arsenal last year but a report from The Athletic says that Lyon have identified McCabe as a โfirm targetโ this summer.
The Dubliner said the speculation is โreally niceโ but stated that she is an โArsenal playerโ and emphasised her respect for the fans and the club who she joined in 2015.
The Ireland skipper missed her sideโs Euro 2025 qualifier against England last week due to suspension, and insisted that her focus is on her international duty this week as Eileen Gleesonโs side welcome France to Pรกirc Uรญ Chaoimh.
โIโve obviously full concentration on being with Ireland and our game prep for tomorrow,โ she told the media at Cork GAAโs home ground where her team will train today before tomorrowโs crucial game. France are aiming to top the group while Ireland are concentrating on securing a seeded place for play-offs.
โIโve seen the rumours and for a club like Lyon to be interested, itโs really nice, but Iโm an Arsenal player. I have been for a long time and full respect to my Arsenal fans and teammates and the club as a whole and thatโs the way itโll be.โ
Lyon won their 17th French title last season and reached the Champions League final this year where they were denied a ninth crown following a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona.
When asked by The42 if McCabe is happy at Arsenal, she replied:
โAs I said, Iโm an Arsenal player coming up to nearly nine years now. I love the club, I love what we have been able to do and the trajectory we went on. As I said, Iโm an Arsenal player and thatโs about it really, yeah.โ
McCabe returns in the wake of a joint investigation by the Sunday Independent and RTร into alleged historical abuse in Irish football. Women involved in the sport in the 1990s have made allegations of unwanted sexual advances, sexual abuse and bullying by a number of male coaches. The RTร Investigates: Girls In Green documentary was aired last week while a Garda investigation is underway. The coaches in question deny the allegations.
Denise OโSullivan expressed her solidarity with the women who made the allegations while McCabe echoed her teammateโs position and said she found the documentary difficult to watch.
โI felt a lot of different emotions. I really felt for the players coming out and sharing their story. To have the courage to do that after so long, 20-25 years I think it was, the courage theyโve shown to come out and speak about those things that should never, ever have happened while those women were playing football and doing so to ensure it never happens again.โ
McCabe continued by saying that she is โluckyโ that she never experienced anything similar in terms of treatment throughout her own playing career and noted that safeguarding protocols are in place for the current national team. She also explained that although she has not communicated with the women involved, she has sent a message to the group via Stephen McGuinness of the PFAI.
McCabe added that she is happy to be available for selection again for Ireland after the conclusion of her one-match ban. The England game offered her a โdifferent perspectiveโ as an observer rather than a participant in the game in Norwich. When asked to elaborate on how she engaged with the team, she said โthey are kind of things I will keep to myself,โ but added that she accepted her position and was happy to support the team.
โAll in all I was really, really happy with Julie-Ann Russell coming back in, [after] four years [away], baby Rosie, and she gets the goal, which the whole team deserved. We were absolutely thrilled for her.
โSheโs [Rosie] been in with us since Monday last week. She didnโt travel to England, but itโs really, really nice. I think Eileen and the staff have done a great job integrating Julie-Ann and her partner and baby Rosie in. Theyโve got our full support. Itโs really nice to come into the meal room and see Rosie. All the girls love it. Sheโs got lots of new aunties.โ
Cork is alive with excitement at the moment as the county prepares for the hurlers to contest the All-Ireland final against Clare this Sunday. Some 14,500 tickets have been sold for the France game, and McCabe is eager to provide the locals with another major sporting fixture to immerse themselves in at Pรกirc Uรญ Chaoimh.
โIโm really excited. Iโve never played in Cork before at senior level. Iโve heard good things from the older girls, of course, Denise OโSullivan in particular. Weโre not in Dublin for the first time in quite some time, I think itโs over 10 years maybe, but Iโm excited. Itโs been a nice feel around the town.
โWe know there is a big appetite for it so all I can say to the people of Cork is to come out and come support us, come watch us and cheer us on for a really exciting game.โ
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Euro 2025 Qualifiers France Katie McCabe No thanks Republic Of Ireland WNT none