The Republic of Ireland camp have been left frustrated after the coronavirus test which indirectly ruled Norwich City striker Adam Idah out of Thursday’s playoff defeat in Slovakia appears to have been a false positive.
Idah missed the fixture and was forced to withdraw from the squad as a precaution after being deemed as a ‘close contact’ of the unnamed member of staff and returned to Norwich to undergo a period of self-isolation.
The teenager was tested independently by the club - but now it appears his absence was based upon a false reading. The Irish Independent are claiming that the individual in question was tested again upon their return to Ireland and came back Covid-19 negative.
Brighton striker Aaron Connolly also missed the fixture along with Idah after the pair didn’t take their designated seats on the plane and moved behind the staff member who later tested positive, boss Stephen Kenny confirmed.
This set off the sequence which resulted in ‘close contacts’ Connolly, Idah and two staff members missing the clash with Slovakia and staying in the hotel while they watched their team lose on penalties.
According to the report, the FAI had to arrange transport to bring the affected parties home on Friday at considerable expense.
Ireland will try to bring the pair back into the squad for their fixture against Finland on Wednesday, although it is believed to be unlikely.
Although, the BBC are reporting that Ireland now have five members of their squad missing for their game against Wales after a squad member tested positive for coronavirus.
The latest set of events would see Idah available to play for the Canaries in their fixture against Rotherham United next Saturday presuming he tested negative when taking his own Covid-19 test.
“I really felt for the two players, Aaron and Adam. They’ve come through the Under-15s with Ireland all the way up to the Under-21s,” Kenny told the Press Association.
“They can still play for the Under-21s and they’re playing in a match to get their team to the European Championships and it’s derailed on the afternoon of it.
“They are perfectly fine. Under UK law, they are fine to continue playing with distances and so forth. It’s just obviously different medical rules in Ireland over distances, and that’s something that’s hard to believe, really.
“But it’s just something that we’re going to have to accept. Without doubt, everyone can learn, but it’s an unfortunate situation and one that we have to live with.”
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