The Nations League clash between the Republic of Ireland and Israel has erupted into a fierce war of words after the Israel Football Association launched a stinging attack on Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson.
The Israeli governing body accused Hallgrímsson of “hypocrisy and stupidity” after the Ireland boss spoke openly about his squad’s discomfort over playing Israel.
Hallgrímsson made the comments when Ireland’s squad was announced, saying: “We’re not playing with genocide, we’re playing against genocide.”
His remarks have added another layer to an already controversial set of fixtures, with campaigners continuing to call on Ireland to boycott the games.
Ireland are scheduled to face Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, on September 27 before meeting them again in Bačka Topola, Serbia, on October 4. The second fixture will be played behind closed doors.
A group gathered outside the Ireland team hotel in Dublin on Monday evening as pressure mounted ahead of the first meeting.
The Israel Football Association responded with an unusually direct statement 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 not yet found a cure for stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy displayed by @IrelandFootball team coach.
“We’re not playing with ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity, we’re playing against the coach who embodies them.”
The confrontation comes as more than 160 Irish sportspeople back an open letter from the Irish Sport for Palestine Group calling on the Football Association of Ireland to reconsider its decision to play the fixtures.
The letter reads: “This is a significant moment and with this moment you have an opportunity to do the right thing. Not playing the game would be the most sporting thing you could do.”
The FAI has nevertheless confirmed that Ireland will fulfil both matches.
The governing body previously said UEFA rejected its request to be kept apart from Israel in the Nations League draw. The FAI has maintained that proceeding with the fixtures was necessary to avoid what it described as “significant and lasting harm”.
UEFA has said requests concerning match pairings are considered on a case-by-case basis, while Ireland and Israel remain scheduled in Nations League Group B3.
The controversy has also drawn criticism from former Republic of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane.
Kilbane wrote in the Irish Times: “Ireland should not be playing Israel. Not in Dublin, not in Hungary, and definitely not a “home” match in Serbia. Not which Israeli forces are committing genocide.
“We as Irish people could have faced down the consequences together. The FAI would have had my support as a former international.”
With the first fixture now approaching, Hallgrímsson and his players face an unusual international camp in which football has been overshadowed by a much wider public debate.
The FAI has confirmed that no tickets will be made available to Irish supporters for either of the Israel fixtures, citing operational and safety concerns.
For Hallgrímsson, the focus will eventually have to return to the pitch. But his comments have ensured that Ireland’s meetings with Israel will carry significance far beyond the Nations League table.
The first chapter will be written in Hungary on September 27, with the return fixture following in Serbia on October 4.
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