Martin O'Neill criticised after Euro 2016 'ban on ugly wives and girlfriends' joke

The Republic of Ireland manager quipped that only the better look partners would be welcome at the team's hotel in France

Martin O'Neill (GETTY IMAGES)

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill has been criticised for his attempt at a joke in which he said ugly wives and girlfriends would not be welcome at the team hotel during Euro 2016.

The former Aston Villa and Leicester manager made the quip after Wales manager Chris Coleman revealed that players' partners would be banned from his squad's base in France during the tournament in an attempt to remove all possible distractions.

Ireland number two Roy Keane suggested on Tuesday that the Republic would adopt a more relaxed approach, and O'Neill made the quip when he was asked about the issue at his pre-match press conference on Thursday.

"Well, it depends on how good looking the girls are," he said ahead of the Republic's game against Switzerland tonight.

"If they are really attractive, they're very, very welcome. The uglier ones, I'm afraid not."

O'Neill has since been criticised by some on Twitter, including Sky Sports News presenter Jane Dougall.

"For those saying Martin O'Neill was making a joke, yes he was - a sexist joke. If it had been a racist joke he would have lost his job," she wrote on Twitter.

Others were also unhappy with the remark.

The joke from O'Neill was made at a sensitive time for gender equality in sport after a week of debate about equal prize money and pay in tennis.