Gary Owens insists non-playing staff who travelled to Slovakia were essential 

A clear divide has emerged between Stephen Kenny and the FAI after interim chief executive Gary Owens insisted all staff who travelled to Slovakia were essential.

Adam Idah and Aaron Connolly were both ruled out of Thursday’s Euro play-off penalty shoot-out defeat in Bratislava as they were deemed close contacts of an FAI communications executive who tested positive for Covid-19 a day earlier.