Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has received public backing from Prime Minister Micheál Martin after the Israel Football Association criticised him over comments about the war in Gaza.
Hallgrimsson sparked the dispute while discussing Ireland’s upcoming Nations League matches against Israel, saying his team was “playing against genocide” rather than “with Israel”. The Israeli FA subsequently accused the Icelandic coach of “stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy”.
Speaking in New York during the UN General Assembly, Martin described the Israeli FA’s remarks as “unacceptable” and said they should be withdrawn. He also pointed to the scale of death and destruction in Gaza and referenced comments by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Hallgrimsson later thanked Martin and others for their support but acknowledged that the controversy had diverted attention from Ireland’s football preparations. He said his priority was now Thursday’s Nations League opener against Kosovo.
Ireland’s two matches against Israel will be played at neutral venues, with the first scheduled for September 27 in Debrecen, Hungary, and the return fixture on October 4 in Bačka Topola, Serbia. The fixtures have prompted protests and calls for a boycott in Ireland.
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