Luxembourg manager Luc Holtz criticised the behaviour of the Ireland management team during Sunday's World Cup qualifier.
Ireland ended their qualifying campaign with a 3-0 win at the Stade de Luxembourg, avenging the 1-0 loss in Dublin back in March.
"I’m very disappointed about the behaviour of the staff of Ireland," said Holtz.
"This evening, they came and played the big guys because they won. In Ireland where we won, they immediately disappeared to the dressing rooms.
"We didn’t go to them and make them ridiculous, but they tried to do that this evening after the match. That’s not very fair play and very disappointing.
"We are not used to that from British teams."
14 November 2021; Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny, right, with Republic of Ireland coach Keith Andrews after the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying group A match between Luxembourg and Republic of Ireland at Stade de Luxembourg in Luxembourg. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
During the build-up to the game, Holtz said that in recent matches, Ireland have "played more with the style that they played for 100 years. It was more British style, this fighting spirit, more long balls, more contacts".
That is a suggestion with which Stephen Kenny took issue on Sunday.
"He is a good football coach, but psychology, he maybe needs to have a look at that side of things," the Ireland manager said regarding his Luxembourg counterpart.
"His sports psychology wasn't of the highest order. We were disappointed he denigrated all the great players who played for Ireland.
"Denis Irwin was in with us a couple of weeks ago. Roy Keane, John Giles, Liam Brady, Mick McCarthy, Robbie Keane, Damien Duff.
"It is wrong to say they just fight for second balls and played caveman football for a hundred years. It’s wrong to suggest that. We thought he denigrated a lot of players and that was unacceptable.
"The players themselves know, they hear it themselves. We did speak about it. It is unnecessary, but it’s part of life. We have moved on already."
Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
See Also: Ireland Player Ratings As Kenny's Men Bury Their Demons In Luxembourg
