Greece boss Gus Poyet has accused Republic of Ireland assistant manager Keith Andrews of "making a big mistake" amid a row ahead of Friday night's Euro 2024 qualifier.
Andrews, a member of Stephen Kenny’s coaching staff, this week suggested that the Uruguayan had been given inside information ahead of his side’s 2-1 Group B victory over Ireland in Athens in June with Irishman Gary Dicker, who played for him during his time as Brighton boss, among the crowd at the OPAP Arena.
However, Poyet issued a stout defence on the eve of the return in Dublin, dismissing Andrews’ comments as "a mistake".
Asked if he had heard what the former Republic midfielder had said, he replied: "They sent it to me two days ago. It was sad. I was very disappointed.
"I don’t know Keith. From outside, I’ve seen him talking on television and the way he played football, I felt he was an intelligent man, and he made a mistake, a big mistake.
"First, I don’t invite people to watch my training. I don’t. Secondly, nobody told me how the Republic of Ireland plays.
"Third, if you look how your country played before they played us: France at home, 5-4-1. Three days before that, they play Latvia, 5-3-2. How did they play against us? 5-3-2 in the first half, 5-4-1 in the second.
"Do you really think I need information? Let’s say he is young, made a mistake, made excuses. But I was disappointed, very disappointed."
Asked about former Seagulls midfielder Dicker’s presence in Athens, where he attended one of the Greeks’ training sessions, Poyet added: "Gary is one of the most intelligent players I had in my time at Brighton. He is proper Irish. Proper.
"And I promise you – this is one thing that is important – we talked more about how good Brighton play than the Republic of Ireland.
"Definitely Gary had nothing to do with that. He was in Greece, yes he was. He went to the game and the day he came (to Greek training), we did nothing to show him in case he told the Republic of Ireland.
"He (Doherty) played for Atletico Madrid, no? When he was in Spain, was he not watching the games, was he on another planet? It's football."
"Gary is a very honest man, he is a top bloke. It was a cheap accusation, very cheap."
The 55-year-old former Chelsea and Tottenham star also hit back at claims from Ireland defender Matt Doherty, who was sent off late in the game in Greece after a clash with Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas, that his players had been guilty of play-acting.
Poyet said: "He (Doherty) played for Atletico Madrid, no? When he was in Spain, was he not watching the games, was he on another planet? It’s football.
"I never had a coach who told me to dive, I promise you. Did I dive when I was young? Yeah, a lot. Then I came to England and the first thing they said to me was don’t. And you need to learn.
"The first one who told me three times was Ernie (Dennis) Wise, he said, 'Don’t do that, you are in England now’, and you learn."
Watch Republic of Ireland v Greece in Euro 2024 qualifying on Friday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live radio commentary on 2fm's Game On
