Ex-Ireland manager Brian Kerr has admitted taking a team to Libya for a controversial match 30 years ago wasn’t “the brightest” idea.
In League With Gaddafi, which airs on RTE One tomorrow, sees him discussing the game against top club Al Ahly Benghazi in 1989.
The Irish team contained Bohemians and St Patrick’s Athletic players and was co-managed by Kerr and Billy Young. The match was controversial as Libya’s leader was financially linked to the IRA.
Muammar Gaddafi’s agents had also been blamed for the Lockerbie bombing, which downed a transcontinental flight over the Scottish town, killing all 243 passengers and 11 on the ground.
Speaking about the madcap trip with Young, Kerr said: “Both ourselves and St Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians were available as we had been knocked out of the first round of the cup that year. It may not have been the brightest thing anyone ever done in football.
“I think initially the League might have been approached to play a game, some people from Ireland representing the local football association in Benghazi.
“I think the people who were being critical at the time were not particularly informed about the circumstances we were in – they weren’t very informed of the realities of League football. They weren’t exactly fans.
“We were offered a few quid that was very attractive as it was going to pay a couple of weeks wages but also it gave players the opportunity to get some international experience.”
More than 60,000 people attended the match. He added: “The political parties weren’t too happy about the proposal when they heard we were going.”
And speaking about what Libya was like at the time, Kerr added: “We were brought for dinner at a zoo – we heard it was Gaddafi’s favourite restaurant.”
Former player Joe Lawless said the experience was one he will “not forget”.
- In League With Gaddafi is on RTE One at 9.35pm tomorrow.
