Hallgrimsson urges Ireland to let results do the talking ahead of Israel fixtures

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has urged his players to channel the controversy surrounding their upcoming Nations League fixtures against Israel into results on the pitch, with the two games set for 27 September at a neutral venue and 4 October at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

The fixtures have drawn significant public opposition in Ireland, including protests at the Dáil on Wednesday, placing the squad in an uncomfortable position that Hallgrimsson acknowledged openly. The 58-year-old Icelander, who last October publicly called for Israel’s exclusion from all competitions in response to military actions in Gaza, said he has already made his personal views clear and does not intend to repeat them.

“From a footballing perspective — it’s an obstacle I don’t like, and it’s unfair for the players to be in this position and us to be in this position — but from a footballing perspective, I don’t like us to be the bad guys. We are not the bad guys here,” Hallgrimsson said.

He was direct about what he sees as the most meaningful response available to his team. “I think the best answer for us is just to win this game. That would be a perfect answer from my end. Other decisions are not made by us, but all the players would like to represent the country and do well for them, no matter who is the opponent.”

Israel has been playing its competitive home fixtures at neutral venues throughout the current cycle of international football, an arrangement that will carry over into the Nations League. The heightened scrutiny around the Dublin leg has prompted speculation that the Aviva Stadium fixture could also be relocated, even as the Football Association of Ireland has reaffirmed its intention to stage both matches as planned.

Hallgrimsson pushed back firmly against any move away from home, pointing to Ireland’s strong recent record at the Aviva. “It would obviously be a disadvantage from footballing reasons not to play at home. We’ve done really well at home,” he said, with Ireland preparing to face Qatar in Dublin before the Israel games arrive. “It’s building to be a strong fortress for us, Aviva, and to move it obviously will lower our chances, so I hope people can rally around the players and us playing instead of protesting or doing something that’s damaging.”

The manager’s comments reflect the tension between the political weight of the fixtures and his responsibility to prepare a squad that simply wants to compete. Whether the Aviva Stadium hosts the October match remains an open question, but Hallgrimsson’s message to his players is unambiguous: focus on football, and let the scoreline speak.