Carlow-Kilkenny TD Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere has questioned the FAI’s efforts to liaise with players prior to being called up ahead of Sunday’s game against Israel.
Deputy Cleere asked if they had consulted players about the fixtures and whether they were genuinely unaware of unease within the camp at Wednesday’s Oireachtas meeting.
The FAI told the committee that they had only contacted a portion of the squad ahead of the international break.
The Fianna Fáil representative questioned whether players should have to make their views known before being placed in a position where they could face public backlash over their decision to play.
“No Irish player, not one, should be vilified for fulfilling a fixture. And similarly, no Irish player should feel that they also can’t raise a matter of conscience either. You said, Mr. Craughwell, that Gavin Bazunu said, “I’ve changed my mind, gaffer”. He said it at one stage. Now, my question is, were players asked before they were called up, that if they were called up, that they would actually participate and play?” said Deputy Cleere.
