'The lads know they're Irish' - Idah urges young players to ignore trolls

Adam Idah has told young players racially abused online to ignore the trolls and dream of playing for the Republic of Ireland senior team. The FAI last week called in police after members of the nation's Under-15s boys team were targeted on multiple social media platforms. On Monday evening, Cork-born Norwich striker Idah, who has a Nigerian father and an Irish mother, featured for Ireland against France in a squad containing five players with African heritage, alongside Gavin Bazunu, Andrew Omobamidele, Chiedozie Ogbene and Michael Obafemi. Asked about the attacks, he said: "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. Under-15s is such a young age, it's outrageous. "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 are 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." The tenor of the abuse aimed at the Under-15s players was that they were "not Irish", and Idah condemned that view. Asked how hurtful that was, the 22-year-old said: "The lads know themselves they are Irish, no matter what colour skin you are, what religion you are. If you feel like you have the Irish in you, of course. "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, I stand by them."

"The lads know themselves they are Irish, no matter what colour skin you are, what