Republic of Ireland defender Caitlin Hayes says the squad is determined to keep their attention on football as they prepare for a crucial Nations League promotion and relegation play-off against Belgium.
Former Ireland manager Eileen Gleeson has accused the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) of treating her and her backroom staff unfairly.
The FAI, as per the BBC, said it would prepare a ‘strong legal defence’ in response to accusations from Gleeson.
Caitlin Hayes insists Ireland squad not paying attention to off-field noise
Despite growing scrutiny surrounding the FAI, Republic of Ireland defender Hayes stressed that the players are fully focused on the challenge ahead.
The Brighton centre-back acknowledged that ongoing headlines have been hard to ignore but insists the team has built a strong bond that helps them stay grounded.
“I think there are people fighting in our corner for what we want and need to be the best team we can be,” she told BBC Sport NI.
“When it comes down to it it’s all about the football. A storm is a storm; you can be inside a house and not know a storm is happening so inside the camp it’s a home we’ve built, and we focus on what’s inside and not pay attention to outside.”
Hayes said that unity within the group has allowed them to maintain focus even when issues around the FAI dominate coverage.
The 30-year-old defender made it clear that earning promotion to League A remains the team’s top priority. Ireland face a strong Belgium side ranked seven places higher in the world, but Hayes believes her teammates are ready for the test.
“It’s important to play well and get a win it will get us into League A and that’s the main goal and what we want to achieve so fingers crossed. It’ll be a tough test,” she said.
Reaching League A would not only bring stronger competition but would also improve Ireland’s seeding for the 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, a major incentive for the squad.
Republic of Ireland boss Carla Ward calls for equality
Head coach Carla Ward, who took over earlier this year, has also faced questions about issues off the pitch.
During her press conference this week, Ward reiterated her belief that pay equality between men’s and women’s international team managers should be discussed seriously.
Her comments came as her predecessor Gleeson continues legal proceedings against the FAI over alleged gender discrimination and pay disparities. Ward said she supports dialogue about fair treatment and resources but emphasised that her immediate focus remains on football.
“What impairs my ability to get results is the lack of talking about football,” she said earlier this week. “Maybe the noise isn’t about football because since I’ve come into the job 80% hasn’t been football. Football is what we’re paid for, what we need to be judged on.”
What’s next for the Republic of Ireland?
With both players and staff under the spotlight, Hayes says the squad is choosing to tune out the background noise and focus on performance.
Ireland host Belgium in the first-leg of their playoff on Friday night, before travelling to Belgium for the second-leg on Tuesday.
