Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has undergone successful minor abdominal surgery this afternoon.

Tests discovered that the continued abdominal pain the 71-year-old was suffering this week was as a result of minor scar tissue from a previous operation and, after consultation with a surgeon at Dublin's Mater Hospital, it was decided the Italian would undergo surgery to relieve the pain.

A Football Association of Ireland (FAI) statement today read: "Giovanni Trapattoni has had a successful and straightforward minor surgical procedure performed earlier this afternoon in the Mater Hospital.

It is anticipated he will remain in hospital to recover over the weekend.
FAI statement

"He is now in recovery and will be returned to the ward in the next few hours. It is anticipated he will remain in hospital to recover over the weekend."

It means Trapattoni will be confined to watching Ireland's prestigious friendly against Argentina tonight on television from his hospital bed. Assistant manager Marco Tardelli will take charge of the game, the Republic's first at their new home, the £350m, 50,000-seater Aviva Stadium.