Studio Celebration Erupts into Controversy
Former Republic of Ireland international Kevin Doyle has found himself at the centre of a major controversy following an extraordinary outburst directed at Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai. The incident occurred during a live television broadcast, moments after Ireland secured a stunning last-gasp victory against Hungary in a crucial World Cup qualifier.
An ecstatic Doyle, working as a pundit for RTE, was filmed running laps of the studio in sheer delight after Troy Parrott completed a sensational hat-trick in the sixth minute of stoppage time to snatch a 3-2 win for Ireland in Budapest. The victory guaranteed Ireland a spot in the World Cup play-offs.
Explosive Comments Caught on Camera
In the immediate, raw aftermath of the goal, Doyle's emotions boiled over. Gesturing towards a television screen in the studio, the ex-Wolves and Reading attacker was heard yelling: ‘Ah, suck on that you Liverpool c***!’
Doyle, a self-professed lifelong Manchester United fan, then quickly turned to fellow pundit and former Liverpool player Dietmar Hamann, adding, ‘Sorry, Didi.’ The clip, shared widely on social media, has provoked a fierce backlash from Liverpool supporters, who have since rallied in defence of their player.
It is believed Doyle's tirade was a direct response to Szoboszlai apparently mocking Irish fans earlier in the match, after Barnabas Varga's strike had put Hungary back in the lead.
Dramatic Match and Fallout
The match itself was a rollercoaster of emotions. Ireland's chances of progression had looked slim after Varga's stunning effort restored Hungary's lead, following earlier goals from Parrott and Daniel Lukacs.
However, Parrott equalised with ten minutes of normal time remaining before delivering the dramatic winner deep into added time, completing his hat-trick and sending the travelling Irish support into delirium.
The result was devastating for Hungary and their captain, Szoboszlai, who was pictured in floods of tears after the final whistle confirmed his nation's elimination from World Cup contention. In a post-match interview with Hungarian outlet M4, a distraught Szoboszlai could barely speak, admitting his heart ached ‘Very much’ and acknowledging the cruel nature of football.
Attention for Ireland now turns to the World Cup play-off draw, which is scheduled for Thursday. The play-offs, featuring 16 teams, will consist of one-legged semi-finals on March 26 and finals on March 31, deciding the final European spots for the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
