Nor does O’Shea accept the argument that the clause was designed to be used in an one-off event such as a home World Cup. “There are always exceptional circumstances,” O’Shea said. “Then there will be the next one and the next one and the next one. We have a lovely saying in Ireland that you can’t be half pregnant. It is the rule and it takes a stronger person to stick by it then it does to break it. People should be very careful what they wish for. Players will leave and they will care more about money than they will for their country.”