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Ireland’s goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly has criticized “disgusting” rumors that he leaked information about the video shown and the speech delivered by Ireland coach Stephen Kenny before the friendly with England.
Kelly says it is “shameful” that his reputation has been dragged through the mud on the matter.
Kenny met with FAI official Gary Owens yesterday about the controversy and is expected to discuss it with the association’s new CEO, Jonathan Hill, over the weekend.
Kelly and Seamus Coleman are also reportedly ready to discuss the situation with FAI officials, although it is believed that Kenny’s position is not threatened.
Kelly did not travel to Dublin from Cardiff for the final Nations Cup match of the last international window against Bulgaria.
The reason given was Kelly’s concern as an asthmatic about the presence of Covid-19 in the camp.
In a blunt statement on his @KeeperskillsTwitter account, the former Irish minister responded to claims that he leaked the news.
“I recently made the difficult decision to put my health first and football second while still working, traveling, eating and sleeping, in camp, with the Republic of Ireland national team during the recent international break,” he said. Kelly.
“Covid-19 was present at the camp and continued to spread from person to person during this period.
“I made the decision to ‘skip’ in the last game because the risk was getting too high for me as an asthmatic.
(Image: © INPHO / Ryan Byrne)
“Now I am absolutely furious and disgusted with the narrative and the hints being created in the media that this decision is somehow related to stories leaked to the press from OUR dressing room.
“I can say, with 100% certainty, that I have never danced in front of the media in 35 years as a player and coach and I have been in some pretty interesting locker rooms.
“This narrative is totally and totally wrong and it should raise the question, who is spreading and benefiting from this?
“What I can say is that it’s not me.
“I have been a loyal servant of Irish football for over 30 years and now finding my name and reputation crawling through the mud is disgraceful.
“Enough is enough”.
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