It’s only right.
As Irish fans begin to come to terms with the devastating injury which Seamus Coleman suffered against Wales on Friday night, the impact it has on the football pitch is only beginning to be realised.
Much of the reaction over the last few days has been of pure empathy for the stricken Donegal man.
And rightly so.
You wouldn’t wish such an injury on your worst enemy, let alone one of the nicest and most humble men in professional sport.
Football is a business, however.
Coleman is contracted to Everton and it would be difficult to find a man more distressed about Friday night’s events than Ronald Koeman.
The Everton manager will now have to plan the rest of this season, and much of the next one, without one of his best players.
Fear will always exist for club managers when they see their players depart for international duty.
It’s part and parcel of the game.
Unfortunately for Koeman, the worst possible scenario unfolded in Dublin at the weekend and although it’s scant consolation, the club will be compensated by FIFA.
The Times is reporting that football’s world governing body will dish out £1.3 million to the Merseyside club.
FIFA will do this because they are required, under the FIFA Club Protection Programme, to pay the full amount of wages to any player who suffers an injury which rules them out for more than 28 consecutive days, while on international duty.
According to the report, Coleman is understood to receive approximately £50,000 per week at Everton and those wages will be covered by FIFA for the first six months of injury layoff.
Hopefully for everyone involved, Coleman will make a swift and successful return soon after this timeline.
