Eamon Dunphy was never imprisoned by facts

Japan’s meeting with Russia at the 2002 World Cup produced one of Eamon Dunphy’s most famous RTÉ moments.

Clearly worse for wear, Dunphy surveyed a clip of the Russians’ winning goals in their opener against Tunisia, assuring a baffled Peter Collins that “these aren’t the incidents that win and lose games, these are false.”

He didn’t reappear at half-time and in the ensuing days there was a brief suspension, an apology, and an acceptance he had been ‘tired and emotional’ during this broadcast.