Irankunda says Hanson's monoculture comments upset team during World Cup

Socceroo Nestory Irankunda has revealed that his teammates were upset by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's comments on multiculturalism during the World Cup. Irankunda, who is one of several Socceroos players from a refugee background, stated that the comments had a significant impact on the team. Despite attempts to avoid social media, it was difficult to ignore the senator's remarks.

Irankunda emphasized that there were many players who contributed positively to the team and did not align with Hanson's views. He expressed frustration with the attempt to categorize all players based on the actions of a few. Irankunda, who recently moved from Watford to Sporting CP, hinted at the possibility of speaking with Hanson in the future, though he was not eager to engage in controversial discussions.

Earlier, Hanson had stated that the Socceroos embodied her vision of a monocultural Australia, praising the unity and success of a diverse team representing one nation. Irankunda, along with other young players, expressed optimism about the future of Australian football, highlighting the emergence of young talent and the team's potential for further success.