A Republic of Ireland senior player has tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of today's clash with Wales, the FAI have confirmed.
The unnamed player will miss today's Nations League match at the Aviva Stadium and Thursday's clash away to Finland.
It is understood that four other players in John Egan, Callum Robinson, Callum O’Dowda and Alan Browne will also miss the Wales game as they are close contacts of the positive case.
It comes after Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah missed Thursday night's Euro 2020 play-off semi-final defeat to Slovakia due to sitting close to an FAI staff member, who later tested positive for the virus, on the flight to Bratislava.
It has now been reported that the FAI staff member's test result may have been a false positive.
The FAI said in a statement: "Stephen Kenny’s Ireland squad has received one positive COVID-19 test result ahead of today’s Nations League game against Wales at the Aviva Stadium, after the latest round of UEFA testing.
"A player – who cannot be named at this time - tested positive on Friday after a negative test on Monday but his case is not related in any way to that of the backroom team member who tested positive on Monday last.
"Talks with the HSE late last night identified four other players as close contacts of this positive case and they have been stood down from the matchday squad for today’s game against Wales.
"In a separate development, the FAI can now reveal that the staff member who tested positive for COVID-19 in Bratislava on Wednesday, may have received a ‘false positive’ result.
"Two further tests carried out on the individual on Saturday have confirmed no trace of COVID-19. The HSE and UEFA have been informed of this result. The FAI will now discuss the issue with UEFA."
