Declan Rice has admitted he feels it would have been 'disrespectful' to celebrate after scoring for England against Ireland on Saturday.
Rice actually made three appearances for Ireland before switching allegiances back in 2019.
The 25-year-old, along with fellow goalscorer Jack Grealish, was booed and jeered by Irish fans in attendance on Saturday night.
But Rice produced a typically composed performance in the middle of the park, with the Arsenal midfielder also opening the scoring with just 11 minutes left on the clock.
Declan Rice has admitted he feels it would have been 'disrespectful' to celebrate after scoring for England against Ireland on Saturday
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Speaking after the match, the former West Ham star said he felt it would have been 'disrespectful' to celebrate.
"To have celebrated, it would have been really disrespectful of me," he told Sky Sports News.
"My nan and grandad, my dad's side of the family are all Irish and they've obviously passed away. They're not here anymore.
"I didn't want to do that, to be honest with you.
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"I had such an amazing time playing for Ireland, even in the first team, the U19s, U21s. They were great memories that live with me.
"So, look, I don't have a bad word to say, to be honest with you. I wish them all the best."
Not everybody is pleased with Rice's refusal to celebrate, however.
Some fans accused the midfielder of being 'woke'. One user said: "Doing the respect celebration in international football is the most woke thing I’ve ever seen."
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A second said: "Declan Rice not celebrating after scoring against Ireland is complete, utter woke nonsense. I give up, I really do."
A third said: "Declan Rice not celebrating against Ireland is the most woke nonsense I’ve ever heard of."
And a fourth opined: "Declan Rice doing a respect celebration in international football….games gone woke."
Meanwhile, Grealish also found the net on Saturday.
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Declan Rice has been accused of being 'woke' by not celebrating in England's win over Ireland
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Like Rice, the Manchester City star represented Ireland at youth level earlier in his career.
But Grealish says there's no 'bad blood' between himself and Ireland after he celebrated his own effort.
“It was what me and Dec expected. I said before the game, I think it is different," said the former Aston Villa star when asked about being booed.
“Me and Dec have nothing bad to say, we both enjoyed our time with Ireland.
Declan Rice was joined by Jack Grealish on the scoresheet as England cruised to victory against Ireland
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"I certainly did, and I have a lot of Irish in my family, so there is no bad blood from my side.”
Grealish continued: “I need to start playing regularly and scoring goals, that is what I did today.
“I still don’t feel 100 per cent fit but I am getting there. From a personal point of view, I am happy.
“It meant everything, just going to the fans at the end and hearing them cheer my name and stuff."
