Conor McMenamin: No mistake from IFA in handling of withdrawal, says NI boss Ian Baraclough

McMenamin (right) had trained with the NI squad in Belfast during the week before being withdrawn on Saturday

Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough has said the Irish FA did not make a mistake in its handling of the Conor McMenamin social media video incident.

The Glentoran forward was withdrawn from the squad because of the video hours before Saturday's win over Kosovo in Belfast, before being reinstated and travelling with the squad to Athens for Tuesday's match against Greece.

There was uncertainty on Sunday night, and on Monday, about whether he would be cleared to play, before it was confirmed later that day that he could.

"No, because you couldn't be sure until it was looked into and that's what has been done," Baraclough said when asked on Monday evening if the IFA made a mistake in removing McMenamin from the squad on Saturday.

"I think it was the right thing to do. Was it hard giving him the information? Of course it was, denying someone being with the squad and possibly making another cap but I think it was the right thing to be done rather than not reacting at all."

He added: "When we saw what came out on social media, we were made aware of it, it was something we had to react swiftly to. We couldn't identify when something like that is taken from.

"It has obviously turned out to be an historical tweet that he was punished for by his club previously.

"I don't think we can take any chances as an association, certainly with what had happened a couple of days previously with Kyle, so the action and decision was taken to pull him out and see where it went from there.

"The disciplinary committee has obviously looked at that and he is now to free to be with us which is good news."

Lafferty video 'believed to have happened' on team night out

Lafferty was removed from the NI squad on Friday

McMenamin, who made his senior international debut in June, had been the second player to be withdrawn from the squad in two days after Kilmarnock striker Kyle Lafferty was removed on Friday amid an investigation by his club into an alleged sectarian remark in a video that appeared on social media.

Addressing the media on Monday ahead of Tuesday night's final Nations League group C2 match away to Greece, Baraclough confirmed that the video of Lafferty was taken last Tuesday night after an organised team meal.

"I believe so," Baraclough said when asked if the incident happened on a team night out.

"It wasn't as we were together at the restaurant. For me, there is an enquiry ongoing on that so I can't comment too much more on that."

Kilmarnock said on Thursday they were aware of footage "which appears to show a member of our playing staff using language of a sectarian nature", with the IFA saying on Friday that a "minor back problem" had also prevented Lafferty training during week and contributed to his withdrawal.

"We all went out. We all went to the restaurant and we all came back. The players had a day off the next day," Baraclough explained.

"They are adults. They know they have got a responsibility and when they are on international duty they are still representing themselves, their clubs, their families and me.

"You can't keep them cooped up in a hotel, you give them a certain amount of trust. You hope that is the right thing to do going forward as well.

"We are talking about a team bonding session and people being themselves and seeing them in their natural state and, at times, you do have to learn from it.

"It might be something that we look at further down the line. It has always served Northern Irish teams really well when they have had that bit of time to themselves so for me it was something we weren't expecting to wake up to those sorts of headlines and that type of news. I'm disappointed."

Answering questions 'part of the role'

Monday was the third press conference in four days in which Baraclough has had to respond to questions about social media videos involving players.

He insisted it is not a frustration and that he accepts it is something he has to do as Northern Ireland manager.

"It's part of your role, you know that, you understand that," the former Motherwell boss said.

"There might be things thrown up unexpectedly, things you have never had to deal with before and you have to deal with it.

"You talk about being a head coach or a manager or whatever you want to call it, you are in charge of these players.

"There are times when disappointments happen and you have got to be there for them to be a father figure, a bit of advice or to crack the whip or to be the bearer of bad news, it's all part of the role."

Northern Ireland beat Kosovo 2-1 on Saturday at Windsor Park thanks to two late goals, with manager Ian Baraclough saying after the win that the withdrawals of the players had made preparations tough, but that the players had rallied well.

Northern Ireland are third in the table and must match or better the Cyprus' result against Kosovo to ensure they remain in the third tier and avoid a relegation play-off.