Roche goal pipped to top Fifa award

FOOTBALL star Stephanie Roche will not return to France having been pipped to Fifa’s prestigious Puskas award for goal of the year at a glittering ceremony in Zurich last night.

The player, who signed a year’s contract with then-newly promoted Division 1 Feminin side ASPTT Albi in June 2014, was beaten into second place by Colombia's James Rodriguez. Manchester United’s Robin Van Persie came third.

Ms Roche was the first female player to be nominated for the prestigious award. She was nominated for a goal - a long-range three-touch turn-and-volley - she scored while playing for Peamount United against Wexford Youths in Ireland’s Bus Eireann National League before she joined the side from the Midi-Pyrenees.

It picked up 33% of the public vote, compared to the 42% Colombia’s Rodriguez picked up for his 25-yard dipping volley that crashed in off the underside of the crossbar in an international against Uruguay.

But French football fans hoping to see Ms Roche in action for Albi are set to be disappointed.

La Dépêche du Midi has reported that she has decided not to return to France to see out the remaining term of her year-long €800-a-month contract.

Speaking before last night’s ceremony club president Bernard Espié told the newspaper that Ms Roche had not acclimatised to life in France, and had decided to return to her native Ireland.

“It is unfortunate that things have ended this way - but that’s life,” he said, adding that he heard the news from a French-speaking member of Ms Roche’s family several days after she had been due to return to the club after a holiday.

He said he had not made a decision about what action the club may decide to take, and would talk to the football federation first.

Photo: Screengrab / Fifa / Youtube