Unionist politicians and loyalist paramilitary groups have condemned the death threat which caused Northern Ireland player Neil Lennon to retire from international football.
The threat was made to a local newsroom in the name of the Loyalist Volunteer Force but was accompanied by no code word. Senior LVF sources yesterday insisted the group had not issued the threat. They said it was evidently a hoax and their organisation posed no threat to the Celtic player.
Pastor Kenny McClinton, who has mediated between the LVF and the British government, said: "The LVF have stated they have no interest in who plays sport for whatever country and they totally condemn any threat against a sporting figure."
He said the authenticity of the threat should have been checked before action was taken. "Neil Lennon has made the wrong decision. He should have stood his ground. He has folded in the face of a hoax threat by some clown with 10 pence in his pocket."
Mr John White, of the Ulster Political Research group, which advises the UDA, said it was obvious the threat was a prank and Mr Lennon's retirement could easily have been avoided.
The North's First Minister, Mr David Trimble, condemned the threat as "a sinister and serious development" which undermined efforts by the Irish Football Association to combat sectarianism.
"The safety of Neil Lennon and his family is a major consideration. It is a sad day for football, which has come through 30 years of violence, that such an incident can put one of the province's top players in a position of fear," Mr Trimble said.
DUP Assembly member Mr Peter Weir said the threat appeared to have come from "some sick hoaxer" but still had to be roundly condemned.
Anti-Agreement Ulster Unionist MP Mr Jeffrey Donaldson said the vast majority of soccer fans in the North would be appalled.
Northern Ireland manager Mr Sammy McElroy and IFA president Mr Jim Boyce said they hoped Mr Lennon would reconsider.
But Sinn Féin said the Northern Ireland team's home ground of Windsor Park was "a cold house for Catholics".