Wigan Athletic midfielder James McCarthy ruled himself out of contention for the Republic of Ireland Euro 2012 squad for personal reasons.
The 21-year-old had been widely tipped to claim one of the slots in Giovanni Trapattoni's selection for the summer tournament.
However, McCarthy took the decision to withdraw after learning that his father has been diagnosed with cancer.
"Last week, he called me. He told me what happened in his family," Trapattoni told reporters.
"I said to him: 'I'm sorry, I'm very, very sorry'. He has decided to stay at home because he has a very heavy duty to his parents."
McCarthy himself said in a statement: "I have made the difficult decision to withdraw my name from selection for the Euro 2012 squad following the diagnosis of my father with cancer and ongoing requirement for treatment.
"I have discussed this with the manager. He was very understanding and I thank him sincerely for that.
"I take this opportunity to reaffirm my complete commitment to playing for the Republic of Ireland. It is a huge honour and a source of great pride for me and my family.
"Despite not being present, I would like to wish the manager and my teammates every success at the tournament and I hope the Irish fans can understand the reason for my decision at this difficult time."
McCarthy has made three appearances for Ireland.
Liam Apicella
