The Taoiseach has called on media and sporting organisations to boycott the planned boxing matches between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

It comes after Fury thanked Daniel Kinahan for getting the fight ‘literally over the line.’

The 46-year-old Dubliner has been named in the High Court as a senior figure in the Kinahan organised crime gang, which is involved in international drugs and weapons trafficking.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar now giving a post cabinet briefing pic.twitter.com/JtYbFI8Z9Y

— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) June 12, 2020

Speaking this afternoon, Leo Varadkar urged sports and media companies to ignore the fight.

“It is not a decision for me but I think it would be entirely appropriate for sporting organisations and media organisations to have nothing to do with this,” he said.

“Maybe they don’t know the facts or know the truth – but they need to know them.

“I wouldn’t like to see them giving it any attention at all given the circumstances.”

Anthony Joshua after reclaiming the IBF, WBA, WBO & IBO World Heavyweight Titles. Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire/PA Images

Fury is managed by MTK Global, which was founded by Mr Kinahan and Matthew Macklin in 2012. The company has since claimed Mr Kinahan has no direct involvement with it.

The fights are expected to go ahead in Dubai and the Department of Foreign Affairs has contacted UAE authorities about the plans.

Mr Varadkar admitted there was little more the Irish Government could do to stop the fights from happening.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, leading boxing promoter Bob Arum said the allegations against Mr Kinahan were “none of my business” and said he has found him to be “an honourable man.”

Should the fights go ahead, Fury and Joshua are likely to meet for the first time in the summer of 2021.