Two members of the Irish senior soccer squad are this morning in Garda custody.

The two - Phil Babb and Mark Kennedy - were detained at 3:45 am in Dublin city centre and brought to Harcourt Terrace Garda station.

They are expected to appear in Dublin District Court later this morning charged with causing criminal damage to a car.

Both players are due to fly to Amsterdam on Thursday for a crucial World Cup qualifying game against Holland - the preparations for which have now been thrown into total disarray.

Irish manager Mick McCarthy was due to host a scheduled press conference at lunchtime today, but the speculation now is that the event will be cancelled.

Squad:
Goalkeepers - Alan Kelly (Blackburn), Shay Given (Newcastle), Dean Kiely (Charlton)
Defenders - Stephen Carr (Tottenham), Gary Kelly and Ian Harte (Leeds), Steve Staunton (Liverpool), Gary Breen (Coventry), Richie Dunne (Everton), Phil Babb (Sporting Lisbon),
Midfielders - Roy Keane (Man Utd), Mark Kinsella (Charlton), Steve Finnan (Fulham), Jason McAteer (Blackburn), Mark Kennedy (Man City), Kevin Kilbane (Sunderland), Damien Duff (Blackburn), Matt Holland (Ipswich)
Strikers - Niall Quinn (Sunderland), David Connolly (Feyenoord), Robbie Keane (Inter Milan), Dominic Foley (Watford)