Teenager targeted by online trolls after changing allegiance to Rep of Ireland

"Our son is Irish. Christopher wants to play for Ireland. Our family and our Son are on the receiving end of a lot of hatred this morning. Grateful for the opportunity to set the record straight. We won't be commenting further and Christopher will continue to do his talking on the pitch."

"Chelsea and former Northern Ireland underage star Chris Atherton has officially switched his allegiance to the Republic of Ireland. The Armagh native famously made his first team debut at Glenavon in the Bet McLean League cup at the age of 13 in 2022 - a UK record. The IFA later changed the rules on the minimum age at which a player can feature in a senior game."

Chris Atherton, a 17-year-old Chelsea player from Armagh, has officially switched his international allegiance from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland. Atherton made history in 2022 by becoming the youngest player ever to represent a club at top level when he debuted for Glenavon at age 13, prompting rule changes by the IFA. He signed professional terms with Chelsea in October 2025 and previously represented Northern Ireland at underage levels through under-17. His father, Stephen Atherton, a FIFA-registered football agent, publicly addressed the online backlash following the announcement, stating their son is Irish and wants to play for Ireland. The family faced significant online harassment, with Stephen noting other players who played with Christopher at Northern Ireland level were observing the treatment he received.

Read at Irish Mirror