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FAI say player received 'false positive' from UEFA COVID-19 test

The FAI have confirmed that a second Republic of Ireland player did test positive for COVID-19, b...
Richie McCormack
Richie McCormack

19.46 12 Oct 2020


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FAI say player received 'false...

FAI say player received 'false positive' from UEFA COVID-19 test

Richie McCormack
Richie McCormack

19.46 12 Oct 2020


Share this article


The FAI have confirmed that a second Republic of Ireland player did test positive for COVID-19, but that result was a 'false positive'. 

Reports circulated on Monday that a second member of Stephen Kenny's squad had contracted the virus ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Nations League trip to Finland.

The FAI say that positive was among results obtained by UEFA testers on Monday morning.

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Upon learning of the result, the FAI medical team then organised a second test for the player on Monday afternoon which returned a negative result.

This situation mirrors that of an FAI official who tested positive in Bratislava on Wednesday, ahead of the Euro 2020 playoff semi-final with Slovakia.

That test result ruled Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah out of the penalty shootout defeat to the Slovaks, as they were deemed close contacts.

Connolly and Idah have since returned to the squad, as the staff member's positive COVID-19 result was also a 'false positive'.

The second player - who cannot be named - will be tested again as soon as possible, before the squad departs for Helsinki. The HSE and UEFA have been informed of the situation.

Interim CEO of the FAI Gary Owens said, "This negative result following a positive has been reported to UEFA and the HSE and we are in communication with both UEFA and the HSE regarding the player’s availability for the Finland game.”


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Aaron Connolly Adam Idah Bratislava Coronavirus Covid-19 Finland Helsinki Ireland Nations League Republic Of Ireland Slovakia UEFA Uefa Nations League

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