Euro 2016: Gareth McAuley denied final goodbye to Northern Ireland fans as Uefa insist he takes drugs test

The 36-year-old conceded an own goal to end his country’s hopes of a Euro 2016 upset

Gareth McAuley is consoled by his team-mates after scoring an own-goal against Wales (Getty)

Gareth McAuley was denied the chance to thank the Northern Ireland supporters for their efforts as he was hauled in for a drugs test after the defeat by Wales.

The 36-year-old conceded an own goal to end his country’s hopes of an upset in a result which saw Michael O’Neill’s men eliminated from the European Championship in heart-breaking fashion.

McAuley, who is considering retirement from international football as a result, wanted to bid the supporters who had travelled to France with one last goodbye before returning home.

But Uefa, the European football governing body, insisted that he sit inside the changing room and complete a routine drugs test instead of joining his team-mates out on the pitch.

“It was a great ball but being taken away for a drugs test was cruel,” he said.

“I would liked to have gone out again but it was Sods Law. I don’t like to lord it up, it is not me, but I would liked to have gone out there and said: ‘thank you’.

“I will take that on the chin as well and move on. I will have a beer and sit down with Michael. It is a big ask to commit to two years and if I did it that is what I would be doing.

“I am sort of taking one year at a time in football at the minute but I would love to do it. We will see what happens.”