Live

OTB Gold

06:00 PM-07:00 PM

OTB Gold
Advertisement
Soccer

Republic of Ireland player tests positive for COVID-19

A Republic of Ireland player has tested positive for coronavirus.  The news comes 48-hours befor...



Republic of Ireland player tes...
Soccer

Republic of Ireland player tests positive for COVID-19

A Republic of Ireland player has tested positive for coronavirus. 

The news comes 48-hours before Ireland's friendly with England at Wembley Stadium.

It's the second consecutive international window which has seen the Ireland bubble burst by a positive test.

The FAI say the player in question is asymptomatic and feeling well.

There are no close contacts, according to the association, and all other players and staff members have returned negative tests ahead of the England friendly.

Stephen Kenny's last international window was decimated by positives, false positives, and close contact withdrawals.

Eight players missed the UEFA Nations League draw with Wales at the Aviva, while Kenny told OTB Sports last month he was still "livid" at the manner in which Adam Idah and Aaron Connolly were forced to miss the Euro 2020 playoff with Slovakia.

"The fact that in any other country they would have been eligible," Kenny said, "1.8 metres for Aaron Connolly [so he was deemed a close contact]. In Holland it's a metre and a half in England it's a metre.

"To me, that was absolutely crazy, I still can't understand why they didn't play and weren't available to play and I'm still sort of livid with that really."

FAI statement:

The Football Association of Ireland can confirm that one member of the senior men's international team has tested positive for COVID-19.

The player has been isolated from the group as per COVID-19 protocols, and the HSE and UEFA have been informed of this development. The player is asymptomatic and feeling well.

There are no close contacts of the player and the rest of the staff & squad tested negative ahead of Thursday's international friendly against England.

THE NEWSROUND | Lowry paired with Tiger, Jon Rahm magic, Galway injury worries,

Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.


Read more about

Coronavirus Covid-19 Ireland Republic Of Ireland