Eamon Dunphy has left RTE, but he hasn’t gone quietly.
The veteran broadcaster announced on Wednesday afternoon that the recent World Cup would be his last appearance on RTE Sport, 40-years after his first appearance with the station. Dunphy posted a short message on Twitter saying that he has decided to walk away because he wants to focus on his podcast, The Stand, and that the national broadcaster were made aware of his decision ahead of the tournament in Russia.
Dunphy said that he made up his mind to leave two years ago, after Euro 2016, and he elaborated on his frustration with RTE Sport on Thursday morning.
Dunphy had some great TV moments, this was one of his best. pic.twitter.com/KKccIAPHTu
— Robert Redmond (@RobRedmond10) July 25, 2018
In his column for The Irish Daily Star, Dunphy said that RTE Sport had “lost its nerve” and that there has been a “definite culture change” in the organisation in recent years.
“For many, many years, the RTE soccer panel (of Dunphy, John Giles, Liam Brady and the late presenter Bill O’Herlihy), was regarded as the best around, consistently kicking the arses of the BBC and ITV during major tournaments,” Dunphy writes.
“But RTE lost sight of what worked. Now we have a situation where TV3 are hoovering up soccer nights and have a stronger panel.”
The 72-year-old said that he urged RTE to sign up Graeme Souness and Neil Lennon on a permanent basis. Both have worked for RTE in the past but now appear on TV3’s coverage of the Champions League.
Dunphy was also critical of RTE’s decision to invite American goalkeeper Hope Solo onto their coverage of two games during the World Cup.
You don't try and muzzle Eamon Dunphy https://t.co/SMW7Gbov6E
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 26, 2018
“TV3 have Graeme Souness, Neil Lennon and Brian Kerr on their panel,” Dunphy writes.
“Three men with great knowledge of the game, huge passion and with very strong opinions. I don’t think any of them give a damn about keyboard warriors. I told RTE to go after Souness, to go after Lennon, but nothing happened. Instead, they came up with stunts like inviting Hope Solo in as a guest pundit for a couple of games at the World Cup.”
Dunphy also claimed that he was told by an RTE executive to “go easy” on Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill before Euro 2016. And that, “RTE is a very different place now. It’s a place that lives in fear of keyboard warriors on Twitter or Facebook.”
"Gerrard, right, found out tonight, nothing player"
Here are 70 seconds of Eamon Dunphy at his best 😅 pic.twitter.com/hG4JEMifxi
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 25, 2018
Dunphy announced his exit from the station with two tweets on Wednesday, 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.”
You can read his column in Thursday’s Irish Daily Star.
