Ireland fans call for UEFA investigation after Czech ‘cheating’ in penalty shootout

Republic of Ireland fans have called for UEFA to investigate after players were distracted during their penalty shootout loss.

Their dream of featuring at the 2026 World Cup came cruelly crashing down on Thursday, as Czechia beat them on spot-kicks.

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Ireland had to win their play-off semi-final to remain in with a chance of being able to play at the tournament this summer.

But after giving up a 2-0 lead in normal time, they were eventually beaten 4-3 on penalties in painful fashion.

Fin Azaz and Alan Browne both missed from the spot under the pressure, with goalkeeper Matej Kovar making two saves.

And Kovar’s heroics send Czechia through the World Cup play-off final against Denmark on Tuesday evening.

However, some of the Irish don’t believe that it was the goalkeeper’s saves that made the difference on the night.

They have actually claimed that the Czech fans should be investigated by UEFA for their conduct during the shootout.

And their complaints come following the distractions coming from the stands at Fortuna Arena in Prague.

Every time an Irish player stepped up to take a penalty, a siren blared from the crowd.

Fans call for UEFA investigation

The Irish fans were left fuming by the sirens and the impact they appeared to have on the players in the shootout.

One supporter wrote on social media: “There has to be an investigation into that penalty shootout, the Czechs playing a loud siren every time the Irish took their pen is disgraceful.”

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Another said: “How was there a siren going off in the stadium as Ireland took their penos. Switched off when the Czechs did.”

“The Czechs cheated, pausing before the pens were kicked to see where the goalie was going and then blaring a siren when Ireland were taking their pens to distract them,” a third stated.

A painful night

Despite the fan unrest around the sirens, Ireland defender Nathan Collins didn’t use the distractions as an excuse post-match.

On Azaz and Browne’s misses, Collins told the BBC: “There’s not a lot you can say to a person when they’re in that position.

“But there are not a lot of people that would stand up and take a penalty.

“It took a lot of bravery for them to do that, so there are no fingers being pointed at them at all.”

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The loss in Prague on Thursday night ended Ireland’s dreams of playing at their first World Cup since 2002.

And manager Heimir Hallgrimsson honestly summed up the defeat when speaking post-match, saying: “One word, just pain.

“I feel pain, I feel pride for the performance of the players. They gave it all.

“I feel gratitude towards the supporters who showed up and supported us the whole game, even after the loss.

“I feel pride being a part of that group, but personally – and I know the players will feel pain now, only pain, I would say.”