September 23: Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin has backed national team manager Heimir Hallgrimsson after the Israel Football Federation (IFA) accused Hallgrimsson of “stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy” over comments about the war in Gaza.
On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, Martin addressed the row between Hallgrimsson and the Israeli FA in the build-up to the highly controversial Nations League double-header between the two nations: “I think those are unacceptable comments – they should be withdrawn.
“We are very clear and I think (UN Secretary General) Antonio Guterres said it again this morning, he has never in his life seen the level and scale of death and destruction as he witnessed in terms of the Israeli government’s war in Gaza after the horrific attack by Hamas before the war. Our manager is saying exactly the same thing.
“Israel cannot continue to deny what the world knows and what the world understands.”
Ireland and Israel will play twice in the space of a week in the Nations League. On Sunday, Israel’s home game will be played in Debrecen, Hungary, and the second leg, Ireland’s home game, will take place in Backa Topola, Serbia on October 4.
Hallgrimsson had previously commented: “We are not playing with genocide, we are playing against genocide. We are playing against Israel, we are not playing with Israel.”
His comments prompted a backlash from the IFA, which posted a message to X: “We have contributed to the world and to humanity in countless fields, winning 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 manager of the @IrelandFootball team.
“We’re not playing with ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity, we’re playing against the coach who embodies them.”
Calls have increased in Ireland to boycott the matches. A protest was held at the national team hotel in Dublin and the Irish Sport for Palestine group in a letter called on the Irish FA (FAI) to pull out of matches due to the war in Gaza.
Israel’s parties have often been controversial. Last year, Norway-Israel in Oslo was the scene of protests and a strong security operation. Italy hosted Israel twice in Udine in isolation amid tight security measures.
On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people. In response, Israel launched a war on Gaza, killing more than 73,000 people. Last year, a United Nations commission of inquiry concluded that Israel committed acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip.
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Ireland and Israel will play twice in the space of a week in the Nations League. On Sunday, Israel’s home game will be played in Debrecen, Hungary, and the second leg, Ireland’s home game, will take place in Backa Topola, Serbia on October 4.
Hallgrimsson had previously commented that “We are not playing with genocide, we are playing against genocide. We are playing against Israel, we are not playing with Israel.”
His comments prompted a backlash from the IFA, which posted a message to X: “We have contributed to the world and to humanity in countless fields, winning 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 manager of the @IrelandFootball team.
“We’re not playing with ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity, we’re playing against the coach who embodies them.”
Calls have increased in Ireland to boycott the matches. A protest was held at the national team hotel in Dublin and the Irish Sport for Palestine group in a letter called on the Irish FA (FAI) to pull out of matches due to the war in Gaza.
Israel’s parties have often been controversial. Last year, Norway-Israel in Oslo was the scene of protests and a strong security operation. Italy hosted Israel twice in Udine in isolation amid tight security measures.
On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian group Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people. In response, Israel launched a war on Gaza, killing more than 73,000 people. Last year, a United Nations commission of inquiry concluded that Israel committed acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip.
