Has this clusterfuck been posted anywhere? Some shambles
The42: Connolly and Idah missed Euro play-off as they sat in wrong seats on plane.
The question is why non football related FAI staff were travelling. The alickadoos at fault here again.
A non playing FAI member? That would be standard enough I’d have thought. Don’t think that’s untoward.
They were the Communications guys.
Dela would never have allowed it happen.
It’s just amateur hour all day every day at the FAI.
the FAI stopped all adult games in Dublin, the GGA allowed junior hurling games
The FAI & LOI have socialy distant crowds for months now where the GGA had crowds on top of each other yahooing & fuckin street parties and lockins
How dare you have a pop at the FAi when the fucking GGA behaviour is that of the scofflaw, a scofflaw in a pandemic
how dare you
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soz i snapped guys
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I felt the FAI’s Instagram presence was lacking on match-day alright. Boys strolling down the back of the plane instead of taking their assigned seats. A shitty little thing that’s had far-reaching consequences.
The HSE/NPHET are a laughing stock.
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Absolute shit show…
FAI Covid case that led to Connolly and Idah missing Slovakia defeat was false positive
Aaron Connolly, right, and Adam Idah during a Republic of Ireland training session at Tehelné pole in Bratislava, Slovakia before being ruled out of the game. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
October 11 2020 09:48 AM
The Ireland camp are reeling after it emerged that the Covid-19 test which indirectly ruled Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah out of Thursday’s playoff defeat in Slovakia appears to have been a false positive.
It’s understood that Stephen Kenny and his management team are this morning still waiting for clarity on the results of tests carried out on Friday to see if there are implications for today’s UEFA Nations League encounter with Wales.
The fresh twist as regards the loss of Connolly and Idah for the game in Bratislava has only served to compound frustration and anguish around that episode.
They weren’t able to play as they were deemed close contacts of an FAI backroom staff member who received a positive Covid-19 diagnosis in Slovakia on Wednesday.
However, sources have told independent.ie that individual was tested again upon their return to Ireland and came back Covid negative, a fairly extraordinary development after Saturday was dominated by discussion of the chain of events that led to Connolly and Idah coming into close contact with this person on the flight over.
Effectively, this means that the players needlessly missed out on the fixture, although the FAI were following HSE protocols on the understanding that they were dealing with a positive case in that area of the plane.
The positioning of Connolly and Idah on board was a major talking point on Saturday, especially when Kenny confirmed the duo had not taken their designated seats, instead moving to a row behind the staff member who had tested negative before flying but positive a day later in Bratislava.
This latecomer to the Irish senior team bubble was drafted in after Monday’s round of group tests which showed up one positive amongst the intended travelling delegation - two other people had to restrict their movements and stay behind as a consequence.
Only three tests were conducted for UEFA purposes in Slovakia on Wednesday morning - late playing addition Josh Cullen and two replacement backroom staff members, one of whom learned bad news about their result later that night.
This set off the sequence which resulted in ‘close contacts’ Connolly, Idah and two staff members missing the crunch encounter and staying in the hotel while Kenny’s team lost on penalties.
The FAI had to arrange transport to bring the affected parties home on Friday at considerable expense.
It’s understood Connolly and Idah will not be returning to the squad having gone back to the UK even though it’s believed this would technically be possible within rules and regulations.
But their clubs are in a position where they can exert strong influence.
The chaos around international football in the last week has caused deep concerns amongst clubs.
Kenny’s squad were all tested on Friday, but the process met with delays and the panel were not expected to know the full picture as regards the results until this morning with the FAI expecting to clarify the outcome ahead of the game with Wales - the teamsheet for the match will deliver its own update anyway.
Questions still linger about how the FAI managed the logistics of their Slovakian trip.
Squad members have queried whether plans should have involved a bigger plane or alternative arrangements that removed the prospect of close contact criteria becoming an issue on the flight - even if that meant two planes.
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Still, the false positive bombshell is a wildcard angle to further cloud this unwelcome saga.
Last month, Dr Cillian De Gascun, the chair of Ireland’s Covid-19 Expert Advisory Group, said that Ireland’s testing system delivers a maximum of one false positive for every 500 tests conducted.
But this costly example occurred on Slovakian soil. This saga will rumble on, with Covid dramas constantly disrupting a crucial week for Kenny’s side.
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What a complete and utter shit show.
Ah you just knew this was going to happen.
no mate, a shit show is spreading covid like the gga did
Bring back Delaney
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Grow up
This is a far bigger scandal than Saipan
No it’s not. Just because you weren’t born when Saipan happened
saipan wasnt a scandal
rathoath being riddled is this week scandal
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