President Michael D Higgins reveals why he broke state protocol for Jon Walters

If there was ever a time to break state protocol, that was it.

Michael D Higgins spoke about his love of football to the Irish Examiner on Saturday in an excellent, wide ranging interview with Liam Mackey. The President is a noted fan of the beautiful game, and was present at one of the most joyous moments in Irish football history, when the national team beat Bosnia at the Aviva Stadium last November to qualify for Euro 2016. President Higgins revealed that he broke state protocol by posing for a selfie with two goal-hero Jon Walters, and teammates David Meyler and Robbie Brady, but only because the special nature of the occasion. https://twitter.com/JonWalters19/status/666381963830435841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw "That was a total exception because I'm not allowed to take selfies,” the President said. "As it happened, there was more than one but that was the one that got out. The other John, John O’Shea, was involved too. There was a great atmosphere in there." There may be an opportunity for him to break state protocol again, as the President said he plans to be at Ireland's opening Euro 2016 game, against Sweden in Paris on June 13th. "I seek permission from the government of the day to leave the country, but I think I've made arrangements to be at the first game."