Sligo football manager Paul Taylor says his players are "angry" that their Connacht semi-final against Galway, which was due to be played this weekend, was not rescheduled for another date.
The Sligo county board confirmed on Tuesday night that due to several players testing positive for Covid-19, and more deemed as close contacts, they would be withdrawing from the game.
"I have to say, it has been a difficult few days for the group," Taylor told Ocean FM.
"Because of the amount of Covid cases and close contacts, our numbers just don't add up to fulfil the fixture. Really, from a football point of view, it's not a case that we're not going, we can't go.
"It is very disappointing for everyone involved. The players are gutted, we are all gutted. The players themselves, they are so disappointed. They would have thought that a refixture would be an option and feel that the situation has been forced on them as well. If you are a player, you want to play football.
"They are angry, and they are angry from the point of view of what has happened, as well, and that this could have happened to the group too. That is very raw at the moment."
Taylor said it was realised on Saturday morning that there could be a problem with Covid-19 within the panel. Players were tested on Sunday and received results on Monday.
"We have always acted within the guidelines," said Taylor.
"We have always done everything that we possibly could for the health and wellbeing of the group. That has always been a priority. That has been a priority of my job too, to protect the group."
Taylor added that he, his players and his backroom staff have received plenty of support from other inter-county managers and players.
Though, five-time Kerry All-Ireland winner Tomás Ó Sé has been critical of the decision, questioning why Sligo have pulled out when other counties fulfilled fixtures despite having players testing positive for Covid-19.
"Very disappointing Sligo have pulled out of championship," Ó Sé wrote on Twitter.
"I'd love to know the exact situation that has led to this. Is it 11 players or more? Leitrim and Longford have had issues. We never found out the exact details of Leitrim situation. Fermanagh who had 18 players missing fulfilled their fixture in Ennis so it can be done.
"I'm not down playing the seriousness of this but the integrity of the competition is being questioned now.
"Galway have been thrown into an awful situation too. Potentially 3 games to win an All Ireland?? 3/4 games to get out of Ulster!!
"Why is it all weaker counties that seem to be in bother with this? Does it suit them?"
— Tomás Ó Sé (@tomas5ky) November 4, 2020
Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
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