WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : SPOTLIGHT : ONE AT A TIME

By HELENE ELLIOTT

June 25, 1994 12 AM PT

John Aldridge, who entered the game against Mexico in the second half and scored Ireland’s only goal Friday, almost didn’t make it onto the field.

A FIFA official, apparently confused because Ireland was making two substitutions, grabbed Aldridge and tried to keep him from going onto the field. After some shouting, Aldridge simply took his place.

Jason McAteer had replaced Steve Staunton at the same time.

“I don’t know why he did it. It was pathetic. He was dragging me and pulling me,” Aldridge said. “I was confused. It wasn’t very nice at all. It was ridiculous.”

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Helene Elliott

Helene Elliott was with the Los Angeles Times’ Sports department from 1989 to 2024, first as a staff writer and then, starting in 2006, as a columnist. She became the first female journalist to be honored with a plaque in the Hall of Fame of a major professional sport as the 2005 winner of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Elmer Ferguson Award, awarded to writers “who have brought honor to journalism and to hockey.” A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she has covered 18 Olympics.

WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : SPOTLIGHT : ONE AT A TIME

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