ROME (ITALPRESS) – The Israel Football Association has accused Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson of “ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity” over remarks he made last week.
During the announcement of the squad for the upcoming Nations League matches, which include two games against Israel on September 27 and October 4, Hallgrimsson said: “We don’t play with genocide, we play against genocide. We play against Israel, not with Israel,” in response to a question about how to keep his players focused ahead of the matches.
Yesterday, the Israel Football Association responded on social media: “We have contributed to the world and humanity in countless fields, earning an impressive number of Nobel Prizes along the way. Unfortunately, we have yet to find a cure for the stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy displayed by the Irish national team coach. We are not playing against ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity; we are playing against a coach who embodies them.”
The Football Association of Ireland did not respond, but a protest was held yesterday evening outside the hotel where the Republic of Ireland squad is staying, as pressure mounts for a boycott of the matches.
More than 160 Irish athletes have signed an open letter promoted by the group “Irish Sport for Palestine” calling for a boycott of the matches against Israel. Ireland is due to face Israel in Hungary on September 27, before playing the return fixture in Serbia on October 4.
The letter states that the FAI, UEFA and the Irish government should have intervened before this stage, but that there is still time to “demonstrate the power of sport to unite”.
Among the signatories are Olympic athlete Ciara Mageean, Ireland women’s international footballer Louise Quinn, former Ireland rugby fly-half Tony Ward, who previously boycotted a team tour of South Africa, and boxers Tyrone McKenna and Eric Donovan.
The Nations League fixtures mark the Republic of Ireland’s return to competitive action following their painful defeat to the Czech Republic in the World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final in March.
Since the penalty shootout defeat in Prague, the team have played four friendlies, beating Grenada and Qatar and drawing with North Macedonia and Canada.
– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
