BACKA TOPOLA (SERBIA) (ITALPRESS) – Everything had been going smoothly for over ten minutes, but then a couple of questions prompted Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson to stand up and leave, bringing the press conference to an early end. Tomorrow, the second Nations League match between the “Boys in Green” and Israel will take place at a neutral venue in Backa Topola, Serbia—a location chosen by the Dublin-based federation to best manage security, to the extent that the game will be played behind closed doors—and the atmosphere remains extremely tense.
A week ago, Ireland only confirmed they would play on the eve of the match following a player vote; they went on to win 3–0 in Debrecen the next day but sent several messages—ranging from wearing black armbands and refusing to shake hands with their opponents to bowing their heads during the Israeli national anthem.
Today, for most of the press conference, Hallgrimsson answered questions focused on the match—as requested by the press office, and avoiding the topic of alleged racist insults directed at two Irish players in the first leg—but two questions from Israeli journalists prompted the Irish federation to halt proceedings.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
