Dominik Szoboszlai Hits Back After Social Media Chaos as Hungary Star Rejects Claims He Taunted Ireland in Fiery Hungary vs Ireland Clash

Dominik Szoboszlai Denies Mocking Ireland After Hungary vs Ireland Drama

What should have been a straightforward night of analysis after Hungary’s World Cup qualifying defeat to Ireland instead descended into a full-blown social media firestorm—one that pulled Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai into the centre of a controversy he insists was based on a misunderstanding.

The 25-year-old captain, visibly distraught after Hungary surrendered a 2-1 lead late on, found himself accused by thousands of Ireland fans online of mocking them with a tear-wiping celebration captured on camera during the match. The clip spread like wildfire, but according to Szoboszlai, the interpretation couldn’t have been further from the truth.

Hungary’s 3-2 loss in Dublin courtesy of a stoppage-time winner from Troy Parrott was emotional enough. But within minutes of the final whistle, the narrative shifted away from the football and onto a gesture Szoboszlai says was nothing more than an inside joke—one that has now turned into an international talking point.

Ireland’s Stunning Comeback Sends Hungary Reeling

The night had started perfectly for Hungary. In just the third minute, Daniel Lukacs pounced to give Marco Rossi’s side the early lead. Ireland’s response was spirited, as Troy Parrott equalised after 15 minutes with the composure of a player who thrives in big moments. This was, after all, a night with play-off qualification on the line.

Hungary wrestled their way back in front before half-time. Barnabas Varga finished off a sweeping move to make it 2-1, and Szoboszlai—who had been pulling strings from midfield—looked determined to drag his side toward a crucial victory.

But Ireland, roared on by a feverish Dublin crowd, refused to fold. Their belief grew, their pressure built, and as Hungary retreated deeper into their own half, Parrott struck again. His 80th-minute equaliser ignited the stadium. His stoppage-time winner blew the roof off.

Ireland finished second behind Portugal, sealing their spot in the World Cup qualifying play-offs. Hungary were left devastated—none more so than their captain.

The Gesture That Sparked the Storm

Hungary v Republic of Ireland – FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier Szoboszlai

Amid the chaos of Varga’s first-half goal, cameras captured Szoboszlai making a tear-wiping motion—a gesture interpreted by many as mocking Irish fans who had been jeering him earlier in the match. After Parrott’s late heroics, the clip resurfaced online with even greater force.

Within minutes, the Liverpool midfielder was trending, accused of being disrespectful, arrogant and unsporting. The backlash was intense and relentless.

But Szoboszlai insists it has all been taken wildly out of context.

Speaking to Blikk, the Hungarian captain said:

“This is a joke between my own teammates, András Schäfer, Barnabás Varga and Péter Szappanos. If it was meant for the Irish, I would tell them.”

He admitted that emotions were still raw after the defeat.

“It is still difficult to accept what happened. Unfortunately, we have to live with it and move on. There is a reason why this always seems to happen to us. But we try to take the positives from the most difficult times.”

Online, Irish fans remained divided—some furious, others sympathetic. But Szoboszlai’s explanation certainly provided a calmer perspective after hours of heated argument and assumptions.

When Live TV Gets Too Live: Kevin Doyle’s On-Air Slip

Adding fuel to the growing Ireland-Hungary bonfire was a moment of live television chaos courtesy of former Premier League striker Kevin Doyle.

Working as a pundit for RTÉ Sports, Doyle was already on edge as the game reached its dramatic conclusion. When Parrott scored the last-gasp winner, Doyle exploded into celebration—a moment RTÉ later uploaded in a trimmed, polished format.

Unfortunately for everyone involved, the full unedited version also leaked.

In the off-camera footage, Doyle can be heard shouting in the direction of the broadcast screen:

“Suck on that, you Liverpool c***!”

The comment, seemingly aimed at Szoboszlai, quickly went viral—bringing a whole different kind of attention to the match.

Realising the severity of what he had said, Doyle turned immediately to apologise to fellow pundit Dietmar Hamann, once a beloved Liverpool midfielder himself. Hamann laughed it off, but the clip—like Szoboszlai’s—took on a life of its own online.

Szoboszlai’s Leadership Tested After Painful Night

Despite the accusations and the result, Szoboszlai’s response showed maturity. He didn’t lash out, didn’t point fingers, didn’t offer excuses. He simply clarified the misunderstanding and focused on the disappointment of missing a huge opportunity.

Hungary had the play-offs in sight. They conceded twice in the final 10 minutes. It hurts. And Szoboszlai wasn’t hiding that.

His comments showed a player who feels the responsibility deeply:

“We had a chance until the end; we believed we could make the playoffs.”

For Hungary, the wait continues. For Szoboszlai, the scrutiny continues too—this time off the pitch rather than on it.

Ireland Look Ahead: Now the Real Battle Begins

While Hungary process a painful defeat, Ireland begin the countdown to March’s World Cup play-offs.

The qualifiers feature 16 teams fighting for just four places in North America next summer. Ireland, having beaten Hungary and pushed Portugal earlier in the group, go into the draw with belief—but also with the knowledge that no route will be easy.

Possible opponents include:

• Wales

• Scotland

• Czechia

• Bosnia & Herzegovina

• Albania

• Slovakia

• Kosovo

The draw takes place on Thursday, November 20. The semi-finals kick off on March 26, 2026. The finals follow five days later. The stakes? Everything.

Troy Parrott’s hat-trick has already written him into Irish football folklore. Now he has the chance to write an even bigger chapter on the world stage.

A Night That Went Viral for All the Wrong Reasons

Hungary vs Ireland was already dramatic enough on the pitch. Off it, it turned into a whirlwind—viral videos, misunderstandings, studio chaos, and a captain forced to defend his character.

Dominik Szoboszlai knows how quickly narratives can spin out of control in modern football, especially when emotion, rivalry and social media collide. His denial was clear, his explanation straightforward, and his frustration understandable.

A match that should have been remembered purely for Parrott’s brilliance will now be remembered for much more.

But for Szoboszlai and Hungary, the only thing that matters now is how they respond. Football always offers another chance—just not this time.