Everton goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly has hit out at suggestions he was behind a recent leak from the Ireland camp whilst on international duty.
Manager Stephen Kenny's decision to show a video ahead of Ireland's game against England as a source of motivation is being investigated by the FAI after details were linked to the press, which described the contents of the video as 'anti-English'.
Kenny is not expected to be sanctioned over the video, which has been reported by RTE as being famous goals scored against England followed by 30 seconds of the historical context of the relationship between the two countries.
Kelly, who acts as Ireland's goalkeeping coach along with his role at the Toffees, was absent from Ireland's final game of the international break against Bulgaria due to his concerns over an outbreak of coronavirus in the squad.
He has now angrily hit out at any suggestion that he left camp due to the leaks over the video.
Kelly said in a statement on Twitter: "I recently made a difficult decision to put my health first and football second as I continued to work, travel, eat and sleep in camp with the Republic of Ireland national team during the recent international break.
"Covid-19 was present in the camp and continuing to spread from person to person during this period.
"I made the decision to sit out the last match because the risk was becoming too high for me as an asthmatic.
"I am now furious and disgusted with the narrative and innuendo being created in the media that this decision is somehow linked with stories being leaked to the press out of OUR dressing room.
"I can say, with 100% certainty, that I have never bleated to the media in 35 years as a player and coach and I've been in some pretty interesting dressing rooms.
"This narrative is wholly and totally wrong and it should beg the question who is spreading and benefiting from this?
"What I can say is it's not me. I have been a loyal servant to Irish football for over 30 years and to now find my name and reputation being dragged through the mud is shameful.
"Enough is enough."
