Sky Sports presenter asks Irish footballer Chloe Mustaki if education is needed around Irish history

A statement of apology has been issued from the Irish women's football team after a video emerged of the team celebrating their FIFA World Cup qualifying win by chanting a song referencing the IRA in their changing room after the match.

With Amber Barrett dedicating her winning goal to the "ten beautiful souls in Creeslough", it was a massively emotional occasion.

In their celebration after their 1-0 victory against Scotland, the team played songs and sang along in their dressing room. One of the songs sung by some of the Irish players was 'Celtic Symphony' by the Wolfe Tones.

The FAI and Ireland manager Vera Pauw apologised for the incident this morning.

Statement from Vera Pauw on footage from Irish dressing room post game pic.twitter.com/nDcKakDPdk

— Gavin Cooney (@gcooney93) October 12, 2022

Sky Sports presenter Rob Wotton spoke to player Chloe Mustaki earlier today about the team's win, later quizzing her about an apology for the chant.

In a clip now viral across social media, Wotton interrogated the player, asking her about the Wolfe Tones track. Needless to say, the response from Irish Twitter has been swift.

"Before we talk about the win, need to ask you about the statement that's just come out from the FAI in which they've apologised for the players singing a song which references the IRA. Would you like to apologise?" the British presenter asked.

"Yeah, absolutely, look, we're all really sorry here in Dublin," Mustaki replied. "It was obviously a massive lapse in judgement on our end, you know, lots going on when the final whistle went and we absolutely didn't mean to cause any hurt on our end so we do really apologise for that, absolutely."

Wotton continued to press the footballer, asking: "How embarrassed are the players by this video?"

Remaining calm and polite, the Irish player responded, saying: "Yeah, quite embarrassed, there's obviously a lot going on in the changing rooms in such a major moment, lots of different songs being put on left, right and centre. So, look, we are incredibly embarrassed in this moment in time, didn't mean any hurt on our end so we do really apologise for that."

In a question which has caused uproar amongst Irish people on Twitter, the Sky Sports presenter asked Mustaki if she thought education was needed on the topic.

"I guess, it raised the question, does it highlight the need for education on issues like this? Is that something you'd be for?" Wotton asked.

"I don't really think so. I think we need to learn in these moments to be better and to do better. You know, we've all been brought up knowing a lot about Irish history. So, we just need to be better in moments like this, and we recognise that absolutely on our end," Mustaki responded.

Having spent approximately a minute and a half speaking to the player about the song before addressing the Irish women's football team's first ever qualification to the FIFA World Cup, naturally Irish football fans are quite upset.

Both English and Irish alike have share their dismay online, with some even calling the situation "Britsplaining."

Our media wonderfully reflects our leadership — tone deaf, ignorant, and hypocritical.

What an embarrassing couple of questions. https://t.co/fadPMPnTRu

— Joe Lipscombe (@joelipscombe) October 12, 2022

"'Does this highlight the need for education on these matters?' asks the presenter from the country which doesn’t teach children in school about their centuries of evil colonial history. The irony is bloody hilarious," one Twitter user commented.

Another added: "an english journalist asking an irish woman whether the irish football team needs to be educated on the history of ireland is, beyond anything else, just very very funny. not a hint of self awareness!"

A further user commented: "Just to be clear. This British man. Asked this Irish woman. To apologise for singing a song with references to the IRA. And then questioned whether WE need more education on OUR OWN FUCKING HISTORY? Ask me arse ye prick."

Irish musicians have weighed in on the viral video as well, with Gemma Dunleavy commenting: "Brits looking for an apology is it? Would ye go an ask me HOLE."

Brits looking for an apology is it? Would ye go an ask me HOLE 🙄🤪🤣 https://t.co/gkTwlRZ7jL

— gemma dunleavy (@gemmadunleavy1) October 12, 2022

Of course, Kneecap and Blindboy have weighed in on the situation with separate tweets referencing the incident.

Kneecap retweeted a post saying "Wait till everyone hears @KNEECAPCEOL is writing the World Cup song for the team next summer," commenting: "It goes like this ‘Oo a up Na Mná say Oo a up Na Mná’"

It goes like this ‘Oo a up Na Mná say Oo a up Na Mná’ https://t.co/s3Nfehsoyn

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) October 12, 2022

Starting a Twitter thread on the issue, Blindboy said: "For no reason, I like to remind myself of the MRF. It was a plain clothes British Army unit in the 1970s who would indiscriminately murder innocent civilians in Belfast/ Derry as an act of terrorism, to deliberately stoke sectarian conflict."

For no reason, I like to remind myself of the MRF. It was a plain clothes British Army unit in the 1970s who would indiscriminately murder innocent civilians in Belfast/ Derry as an act of terrorism, to deliberately stoke sectarian conflict. https://t.co/atVh1if7Qv

— The Blindboy Podcast (@Rubberbandits) October 12, 2022

You can watch the clip of the interview below.

The Ireland women's team apologise for singing a song referencing the IRA following their world cup qualification win against Scotland last night. pic.twitter.com/83flVC8ywp

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 12, 2022