THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION of Ireland has said that it has encouraged all football players in the country to take a vaccination against Covid-19 but that it acknowledges the right for individuals to decline the vaccine where they personally see fit.
A statement released by the Association this afternoon followed a press conference yesterday at which Ireland and West Bromwich Albion attacker Callum Robinson revealed he had not taken the jab and that, currently, he had no intention to do so, repeatedly describing it as a personal choice.
Robinson has contracted Covid twice: firstly in November 2020 (prior to the vaccine’s public availability in the UK, where he lives), causing him to miss Ireland’s friendly with England along with Nations League games with Wales and Bulgaria; and secondly in August of this year, ruling him out of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying trip to Portugal. He subsequently returned for the home qualifiers versus Azerbaijan and Serbia but was not deemed fit enough to start in either fixture.
Ireland manager Stephen Kenny later said that he is fully vaccinated and outlined his preference for all of Ireland’s players to get the jab. But with over 10 players in his squad currently unvaccinated, the former Dundalk boss expressed his belief that it would be “extremely radical” to exclude players from future squads based on their aversions to the vaccine, stressing the need to “respect individuals’ rights as well”. Ireland U21 boss Jim Crawford, meanwhile, revealed last week that seven players in his squad are yet to receive the jab and are at risk of being unable to play an upcoming European Championship qualifier in Montenegro as the country is on the UK’s red list.
The FAI has this afternoon echoed Kenny’s sentiment, releasing a statement in which its policy towards the jab was clarified.
“The Football Association of Ireland can confirm that all players and staff are tested for Covid-19 before reporting for international duty with Republic of Ireland teams and are tested repeatedly in camp in line with FAI and Uefa protocols,” the statement began.
We have encouraged all our players at all levels of the game to be vaccinated but we respect and must accept the right of all individuals to make a personal choice on Covid-19 vaccination.
“The Association will continue to exercise the highest standards for the safety of all our stakeholders. Our Covid-19 testing protocols for all players and staff on international duty strictly follow Uefa protocols and are compliant with all Irish Government guidelines.
“The FAI reconfirms our support for all government, Uefa and Fifa protocols during the Covid-19 pandemic. We thank all our stakeholders for their ongoing exemplary compliance with government guidelines over the last 19 months.”
Dope.
Shouldn’t be given platform.
Did you see his interview. Like 10year old.
I’m not getting coz I’m not.
@Paddy Waggon: personal choice fella…deal with it
@Paddy Waggon: vaccinated players are being responsible and should not he asked to put themselves at risk.
@Liam O’Flaherty: How are unvaccinated putting vaccinated at risk?
Should read the Hertha Berlin article…no vaccination no problem but don’t expect the FAI to pay for tests etc. While I agree with a person’s right to choose, if you choose not to be vaccinated then be responsible for that decision and pay for tests etc.
Drop his wages to 200 a week. At the end of the day, young kids look up to these players. If society as a whole are attempting to stop covid, and u want to allow a small percentage to not get vaccinated – they can’t be on TV. It will not work
@Stephen Mc Grane: Because punishing people for exercising their right to autonomy over their own body is a stellar example to be setting
@Phil Redmond: baby steps someone should tell him he has a Polio vaccination and if he didn’t and got it he wouldn’t be a pro footballer, then explain for the common good,then tell him to listen to doctors ,you know the ones he goes to when he gets an injury or dies he nor because its his body and he gas the right to refuse…jeese
@rugbyanbeer: he had Covid twice. Did he use NHS facilities for treatment and recovery? If so, he is one selfish man for tying up medical resources at a time of great need.
@Trevor Johnston: Cop on to yourself. By your rationale, a person who eats fast food regularly is selfish for ending up in hospital with heart issues or an alcoholic with kidney issues or a smoker with lung issues. Why do you oppose a man’s right to refuse the covid vaccine? It’s highly unlikely he had anything worse than a mild flu, if any symptoms at all, he’s a fit young man. His medical details are no one’s business only his own.
@Phil Redmond: there must be some penalty for being a whinging irresponsible lout?
@The Sports Derd: if he uses his professional position to mislead young people then his medical details are no longer a private matter.
@Stephen Mc Grane: You can’t force people to get vacine and deducting their wages in’st the answer they might have a genuine reasons not to get vaccinated so don’t judge because you don’t know the circumstances
@Liam O’Flaherty: He is misleading no one. Get a grip.
Read the headline… It’s as simple as that!!!
@John Kelly: Exactly. He’s made his choice and his reasons are nobody’s business but his own. They need to stop publishing articles like this. They serve no purpose other than to rile people and vilify the players in question
His choice, is this even a story,? or just another excuse to stir it up