Ireland player tests positive for Covid-19; FAI say Bratislava test may have been ‘false positive’

It’s believed four other players won’t be involved in today’s Uefa Nations League match as they have been deemed close contacts

A member of the Republic of Ireland squad has returned a positive Covid-19 test, the Irish Examiner has learned.

It is understood that the player, who didn’t feature in Thursday’s Euro play-off semi-final against Slovakia, has been diagnosed following the latest testing procedure undertaken on Friday.

Furthermore, it’s believed that four other players won’t be involved in today’s Uefa Nations League match as they have been deemed close contacts. 

They are John Egan, Alan Browne, Callum Robinson, and Callum O'Dowda, all of whom were due to start against Wales at 2pm.

The Irish Examiner is also aware of the infected player's identity but the matter is subject to GDPR legislation.

"His case is not related in any way to that of the backroom team member who tested positive on Monday last," read a subsequent FAI statement. 

"Talks with the HSE late last night identified four other players as close contacts of this positive case and they have been stood down from the matchday squad for today’s game against Wales."

Under Uefa rules, games must proceed in the current international window once 13 squad members are available.

Adam Idah and Aaron Connolly are also unavailable, as they were adjudged by the HSE to be close contact of a staff member who tested positive in Bratislava on Wednesday. That official, a full-time employee, has since returned to Ireland and tested negative in the latest round.

The FAI statement went on to outline that the employee's test result may have been a ‘false positive’.

"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 further tests carried out on the individual on Saturday have confirmed no trace of Covid-19. The HSE and Uefa have been informed of this result. The FAI will now discuss the issue with UEFA."

The FAI went on to clarify steps they took to comply with Uefa and HSE guidelines around the availability of players and the well-being of staff for the Slovakia fixture:

The statement said: "The facts are:

• "Senior FAI staff first contacted the HSE and Uefa when the member of the backroom team returned the positive result from his Covid-19 test, undertaken in Bratislava on Wednesday morning 
• "This staff member returned a negative result in Ireland on Saturday, October 3 
• "He was not deemed a close contact of the previously confirmed positive case 
• "On the basis of this, the staff member was approved to travel to Slovakia by the FAI 
• "He subsequently returned a second negative result from a test conducted in Dublin on Tuesday 
• "As per Uefa matchday requirements, the staff member was tested again in Bratislava on Wednesday morning 
• "As soon as his positive result from a mandatory Uefa test was received on Wednesday night, the staff member went into isolation at the team hotel in Slovakia 
• "In consultation with the HSE early on Thursday morning, four other members of the travelling Irish party were identified as close contacts of the staff member and immediately went into isolation 
• "News of the positive test was only revealed after discussions on the make-up of the statement with the parent clubs of the two players involved 
• "As requested by all parties, the privacy of all five individuals was respected in the subsequent FAI statement 
• "The HSE and the FAI worked closely together to repatriate all those involved on Friday under strict Covid-19 guidelines 
• "The FAI thanks the HSE for its co-operation on this matter"

It concluded: "Manager Stephen Kenny will review his options for Wednesday’s Uefa Nations League game in Finland after today’s fixture against Wales. The FAI will review all Covid-19 protocols with Uefa and the HSE after the Finland game."