The final friendly match between the Ireland U-21s and Kuwait’s U-22s in Austria last month was cut short after 60 minutes due to a racist remark made by an opposing player towards Armstrong, who was a substitute at the time.
Despite leading 3-0, Jim Crawford’s team decided to refuse to continue playing following the incident. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) reported the comment to match officials immediately after several Irish players heard it.
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Although the Kuwait FA denies the accusations, claiming that the match was abandoned due to rough play and tension between the players, the FAI has reported the incident to FIFA and UEFA. They emphasize that any form of racism towards their players or staff is not tolerated.
Dubliner Armstrong (20), speaking on the Training 121 podcast, opens up about the incident for the first time. He admits that his initial reaction was the urge to retaliate physically, but he is proud of himself for staying calm and immediately informing the match officials instead.
Armstrong reflects, “When the racist remark was made, I was taken aback. I had never faced racism on the pitch before. Initially, I considered responding with violence, but then I thought about the consequences. So, instead, I approached the linesman and reported what was said. Our team and their team became involved, but I’m proud of myself for handling it the way I did.”
As an advocate for change, Armstrong believes that education is essential in eradicating racism. He emphasizes the need to continue discussing and addressing this issue in society.
Armstrong states, “I don’t believe anyone is born racist, which is why education is crucial. Even young children, younger than my 13-year-old brother, make racist remarks. I’ve experienced it myself while walking around. We need to ask ourselves, where is the education? To combat racism, some suggest implementing point deductions. However, as a football fan, you wouldn’t want to risk losing titles, play-off spots, promotions, or relegations due to the actions of a few. Ultimately, I believe education is the key. The behavior is unacceptable on the pitch, and it continues to happen. Let’s keep talking about it and strive for change.”
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