The Irish Football Association are hoping Celtic midfielder Neil Lennon will reconsider his decision to quit international football.
The 31-year-old announced he would not represent his country again after receiving a death threat before Wednesday's friendly against Cyprus at Windsor Park.
Irish Football Association president Jim Boyce said today he hoped Lennon would reconsider.
"I fully appreciate Neil Lennon's decision," he told BBC Radio Five Live.
"As president of the IFA, I fully appreciate how Neil feels. . .Neil Lennon has made a decision which is very, very regrettable but very, very understandable.
"I just hope with the situation in Northern Ireland that Neil some time can reconsider this decision. We need him.
"Northern Ireland is a very small country and the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland are good people. There's a lot more good people than there are bad people in Northern Ireland.
"This is just a microcosm of our society here, and until our political leaders get together, combine with each other and stop the problems that we have on the streets, unfortunately, from time to time, some of it is going to come into football, and it's very regrettable."
Boyce said Lennon, who is Catholic, was not targeted because of his religion, but because he plays for Celtic.