The Sunday Mail
It was the enduring image of Republic of Ireland’s 1-0 victory over Italy, match-winner Robbie Brady crying as he hugged his girlfriend and brother in the front row of the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille. Ireland’s players, however, fear many of their friends and family could miss out on similar scenes should they pull off the seemingly impossible and beat hosts France in the last 16 in Lyon tonight.
For the Irish have been allocated just 4,500 tickets inside the 59,000-seater Grand Stade.
Assistant boss Roy Keane has spoken out against the ‘unfair’ situation and striker Shane Long has labelled it ‘scandalous’.
The presence of the boys in green will be noticeably down on the 25,000 who roared them to last week’s famous victory over the Italians – they had 35,000 at the Stade de France for the opening game against Sweden – and there is a concern that touts will be able to charge upwards of £1,000 for tickets on the day.
Keane said: “It does seem unfair for the supporters who want to get behind their team.
“There is genuine disappointment among our group that there’s not more Irish fans getting to the game to get behind us.
“We have 4,500 and the capacity is 59,000 – it does seem a bit lopsided. You’d expect the home nation to have gotten an extra few, but that’s a lot more.
“It’s unfair, particularly the way they’ve travelled and what they’ve brought to the tournament.
“I was thinking we’d have maybe 15 or 20 thousand in the stadium. It will probably feel more like an away game now. I was pretty sure it would be a 60/40 split.’
Striker Long added: ‘It’s scandalous really with the good Irish support we have. It’s going to be like a home game for France, that’s not the way it should be.
“All the lads’ families are looking for tickets.
“To be fair to the FAI, they are working really hard behind the scenes to try and get things sorted, but because France knew three days in advance they obviously got as many as they could and there’s not many left.
Ireland’s squad flew to Lyon on Friday night in a bid to enjoy a full night’s sleep after not getting to bed until 5.30am on Thursday morning.
And perhaps that lack of rest contributed to Keane’s annoyance when repeatedly asked about his emotional embrace with manager Martin O’Neill after the Italy win.
In fairness to the former Manchester United midfielder, however, he dealt with his grievance with good humor.
“There was too much of a song and dance made about it because we were happy celebrating. It’s just called being happy, you should try it,’ said Keane.
‘The manager has made it clear a number of times, we’re not that close, we keep in touch, we don’t go out for meals together.
‘We have a professional relationship where we have a lot of respect for each other.
But I’ve been close to lots of people, you’d be surprised. You must have very little to write about. You must be bored.
‘I’m always hugging people, but there’s not people around to see it. I hug my dogs.
I hug my family and friends as well.
‘I’d like to think if we win against France we would be doing exactly the same.’
Sadly, for Ireland’s players, they might have to make do with a hug from Keane if their close ones are locked out amid the ticketing farce.
Euro Last 16 fixtures
Today
France v Republic of Ireland 3pm
Germany v Slovakia 6pm
Hungary v Belgium 9pm
Tomorrow
Italy v Spain 6pm
England v Iceland 9pm . -Dailymail.
