Eamon Dunphy has criticised RTE for trying to censor the station’s soccer panel ahead of Euro 2016.
Dunphy was an outspoken critic of Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill during his time with the national broadcaster and said before the European championships that O’Neill was a football snob.
The two have had a tetchy relationship during O’Neill’s reign with Ireland but Dunphy criticised RTE for lacking bravery when they told the panel to ‘go easy on Martin’ before the Euros.
“I’ll never forget the words of a senior executive in RTE Sport to us on the eve of that tournament. ‘Go easy on Martin,’ was his message. Martin being Martin O’Neill, of course,” Dunphy wrote in his column in The Irish Daily Star.
“That was the brave new world of RTE Sport, even though there was nothing brave about it.”
Dunphy continued: “RTE is a very different place now. It’s a place that lives in fear of keyboard warriors on Twitter or Facebook. Go back to the 1990 World Cup or the Platini thing at Euro 84′, I’d have been finished if social media was around then. Social media would have done for me.”
Dunphy also addressed TV3’s rise as well as RTE pulling ‘stunts’ like bringing in former United States international Hope Solo for their World Cup coverage.
The full column can be read in today’s Irish Daily Star which follows his decision to leave RTE after 40 years with the broadcaster.
Dunphy announced his exit with two short tweets, which read:
“Two years ago, I decided not to renew my contract with RTÉ Sport. At the time, they prevailed upon me to stay and, in fact, offered me a rise, a small one, to do so. However, before the World Cup I told them this time, I would be leaving.
“I intend to focus on my podcast The Stand which is flourishing and has had over 2.3 million listens since we started. That’s where my energy will now be devoted. In my 40 years with RTÉ, I made many good friends and I wish them the very best for the future.”
The 72-year-old was an apprentice with Manchester United and spent most of his playing career with Millwall. He also made 23 appearances for the Republic of Ireland. Following his retirement from professional football, Dunphy became a journalist, author and podcast host.
