Brisbane Roar CEO DENIES trying to block Bayern Munich signing Nestory Irankunda from playing in A-League following Olyroos snub

Brisbane Roar CEO Kaz Patafta has emphatically denied his club tried to block rising star and Bayern Munich signing Nestory Irankunda from playing in the A-League leading into the finals.

The 18-year-old Adelaide United star is destined for a big future, but was sensationally overlooked for the Olyroos squad playing in the upcoming AFC Under-23 Cup, where Tony Vidmar’s squad are looking to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

Despite multiple reports linking Irankunda to an eleventh hour callup to the Olyroos to replace injured Melbourne City attacker Marco Tilio, he was ultimately left out of the final squad. 

That led to Adelaide coach Carl Veart launching a stunning attack on A-League rivals – including Brisbane – accusing them of trying to block Irankunda from returning to the A-League to close out the season.

If Irankunda – comfortably regarded as Australian football’s best young talent – had been selected for the Olyroos, he would have been ineligible to play for the remainder of the A-League season.   

Veart defended Irankunda following Friday’s night’s press conference after the youngster had scored another of his trademark goals against Macarthur FC and slammed rival clubs for trying to block him from playing in the domestic competition. 

It follows Adelaide coach Carl Veart stating on Friday in a post game press conference it was ‘disappointing that two [rival] clubs wanted to try and stop a young player from playing football’

‘It was disappointing that two [rival] clubs wanted to try and stop a young player from playing football,’ he fumed.

Veart said there was no official confirmation from Football Australia that Irankunda had been called into the Olyroos final squad. 

‘He [Irankunda] didn’t speak to anyone at all from the FA [Football Australia],’ Veart said on Friday.

‘I don’t know where it’s coming from, I had a conversation with [Olyroos coach] Tony Vidmar before the squad was announced and had a conversation after the squad was announced….and I had a conversation with him this week.

‘At no time did they select him…..and I suppose it’s disappointing that two clubs wanted to try and stop a young player from playing football.

‘It says more about the two clubs rather than Nestor.’

Without naming the two clubs in his sights, Veart pointed to A-League teams Adelaide play over the next few weeks, who reportedly called for Irankunda to be stood down following his ‘snubbing’ of the Olyroos.

It is understood other players also wanted to miss the tournament with the Olyroos – but were firmly told by Football Australia they must play.

‘I think it’s easy to see which clubs have called for the suspension,’ Veart said ahead of away fixtures against Western United, Central Coast and Brisbane Roar.

‘You’ve got to get the full story…..they have jumped [in] without knowing all the information, so what can I do?’

Mystery surrounds why Bayern Munich bound Irankunda, 18, was initially overlooked for the Olyroos squad playing in the upcoming AFC U-23 Cup, where Tony Vidmar’s squad are looking to qualify for the Paris Olympics 

When approached for comment on the matter by Daily Mail Australia on Saturday, Brisbane Roar boss Kaz Patafta said Veart was misinformed.

‘We never asked for Irankunda to be stood down. [That] is false news,’ he said.

‘We have better things to focus on.’

Western United coach John Aloisi reportedly said he was comfortable with Irankunda lining up against his side on April 16 in a catch up fixture – while a spokesperson from the Central Coast Mariners admitted the club asked Football Australia if the electric winger was given the option of missing the tournament with the Olyroos.

‘The club can confirm that our Chairman, Rich Peil, personally made enquiries around the accuracy and validity of media reports that Nestory Irankunda was asked if he wanted to be selected as a replacement player for the Olyroos at the upcoming AFC U23 Asian Cup,’ the Mariners told Daily Mail Australia via a statement.

‘With two of our players, Jacob Farrell and Alou Kuol, missing crucial upcoming [A-League] games to be a part of the Olyroos at this tournament, the question was asked if Nestory had been given an option. 

‘This was not a witch hunt against a very good young player, or against Adelaide. We received an answer that Tony Vidmar did not give him the option, so case closed, and we move forward.’

Meanwhile, in his final game on home soil for the Reds in the A-League on Friday, Irankunda scored a world class goal to open the scoring – but then saw an injury time penalty saved.

It proved costly, with Macarthur holding onto win 2-1, with the defeat effectively ending Adelaide’s finals hopes.