Republic of Ireland striker Adam Idah believes that the racial abuse of Ireland's Under-15 boys' team last week was "outrageous."
Ireland played against Latvia U15s and won 6-0, but soon after, a tweet questioning how Irish some of the players really were in the squad went viral.
The FAI (Football Association of Ireland) said they were working with Gardaí and social media companies to find the people behind the racist posts. They also said they were offering support to the families of the children involved.
FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill said, "There is no place for racism in football. To see such young players targeted in this manner is particularly sickening, and the FAI will do everything in our power to ensure the perpetrators are identified and held responsible for their disgraceful actions."
Ireland, as a country, is starting to become more multicultural, and this is finally being reflected in its senior team and younger ranks.
Some of Ireland's brightest stars have African lineage, including Gavin Bazunu, Andrew Omobamidele, Chiedozie Ogbene, Michael Obafemi, and Idah himself, who has a Nigerian father and an Irish mother. All these players played in the 1-0 defeat to France on Monday.
REPORT | #IRLU15 | 🇮🇪 6-0 🇱🇻
Debut goals from Charles Akinrintayo (2) and Luke Chukwu help Ireland to a win at @Homefarm_FC 👏
Billy O’Neill, Grady McDonnell and Michael Noonan also found the net ⚽️
🗞️👉 https://t.co/82gOa87czg#COYBIG | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/AbZgkaOVIs— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) March 21, 2023
Idah, who came on as a substitute in the France game, gave his take on the abuse of his junior counterparts. "The lads know themselves they are Irish, no matter what color skin you have or what religion you follow. If you feel like you have the Irish in you, of course," said the Ireland frontman. "
We are all here to welcome whoever. If you want to play for this badge, then you are more than welcome. They want to put in as much work as everyone else and fight for their place in the team, and I stand by them."
Idah also wants the affected players to emulate the senior squad in the future and add to the growing diversity in its ranks already. "It's not a nice thing to see or hear. It's an awful thing. I have experienced it myself. It's not nice for those lads. U15s is such a young age; it's outrageous," he went on to say.
"You can see in the first team, there is so much diversity in the team at the moment. Anyone and everybody has a chance to play for this country, no matter where you're from or who you are. You always have that chance."
"All I can say to those young lads is to keep their heads up, don't listen to what anyone says, focus on themselves, and one day they could be in this team as well."
Ireland's next game will be against Gibraltar on June 19.
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