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Five players from the Republic of Ireland will miss this afternoon’s Nations League clash with Wales after a team member tested positive for Covid-19.
It has also been discovered that the positive test for Covid-19 returned by an anonymous FAI staff member prior to Thursday’s Euro 2020 semi-final play-off against Slovakia may have been a false positive.
That incident knocked forwards Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah out of the game, both of whom Ireland lost after a penalty shootout.
The two players had switched seats on the plane bringing the squad from Ireland to Slovakia and were deemed to be in close contact with the staff member who later tested positive for Covid-19.
However, after further tests in Dublin ahead of today’s Nations League match and the game in Finland on Wednesday, a player from the team has tested positive in two tests.
As a result of this, four other team members considered close contacts under HSE guidelines will miss this afternoon’s game.
The FAI said in a statement: “Stephen Kenny’s Ireland team has received a positive Covid-19 test result ahead of today’s Nations League game against Wales at Aviva Stadium, after the last round of testing. from UEFA.
“One player, who cannot be named at this time, tested positive on Friday after testing negative on Monday, but his case is in no way related to the backroom team member who tested positive last Monday.
“Discussions with the HSE last night identified four other players as close contacts in this positive case and they have been removed from the team of the day for today’s game against Wales.”
They added: “In a separate development, the FAI can now reveal that the staff member who tested positive for Covid-19 in Bratislava on Wednesday, may have received a ‘false positive’ result.
“Two more tests carried out on the individual on Saturday have confirmed that there is no trace of Covid-19. The HSE and UEFA have been informed of this result. The FAI will now discuss the matter with UEFA.
“In light of these developments, the FAI would like to make it clear that it complied with all UEFA and HSE Covid-19 guidelines regarding player availability and staff welfare in the Slovakia-Republic of Ireland match in Bratislava on Thursday night. “
Ireland is scheduled to fly to Finland before Wednesday’s game.
The association concluded: “Coach Stephen Kenny will review his options for Wednesday’s UEFA Nations League game in Finland after today’s game against Wales.
“The FAI will review all Covid-19 protocols with UEFA and HSE after the game against Finland.”
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