http://www.joe.ie/fo...-duff-0028528-1

99 caps and one big problem for Damien Duff

today at 7:24 am

In the only time Jay-Z and Damien Duff will meet in a headline, thanks to a screw up by Hungary, the retired winger apparently only has 99 Ireland caps, not 100.

We were very sad to see Damien Duff retire from international football last month. The Dubliner had been a great servant to the Irish cause, though, and he appropriately ended his career at the Euros, against Italy, captaining the team while winning his 100th cap. Aside from the result, it was as classy a finish as his career merited.

But now it seems that fairytale ending to the Duff story has been shattered. According to today’s Irish Daily Star, Duffer is now back on 99 caps after an admin balls-up by Hungary.

Ireland played a dull 0-0 draw with Hungary in Budapest on June 4 but it seems the game will not now be logged by Fifa as a full international because of the referee.

Kenn Hansen from Denmark was not appointed correctly by the Hungarian FA according to Fifa, and a spokesperson from football's governing body has told the Star that the game could not now be registered as an “A” match. The game has not been included on Fifa’s official list of results for Ireland and the result has not been included in calculating the rankings.

As well as leaving Duff on an inelegant 99 (though it boosts Marco Tardelli’s hopes of getting him back for Germany now, right?) it drops another retiree Shay Given to 124 while Robbie Keane is now back to 120.

It leaves Ireland with just four centurions now, Given, Keane, Kevin Kilbane and Steve Staunton.

Hopefully the Duffer will come out of retirement and play again. He is still well worth his place. It would be a shame to retire on 99 caps.

Agreed, he's got at least this World Cup campaign in him as an impact sub.

He should get a superman suit and sell Leo....

So from now on the jokes will go "there was an Eglishman a Scotsman and a Hungarian ....."

So from now on the jokes will go "there was an Eglishman a Scotsman and a Hungarian ....."

What jokes would they be ?

Meanwhile back on topic it seems that despite the game not being recorded as an official International the Duffers, 100 caps will be recognised by FIFA. Thats the good news. The bad news is he is unlikely to grace the green shirt again.