Houghton slams Irish government for leaving players in 'impossible' position over Israel fixtures

Ray Houghton has accused the Irish government of failing to provide adequate support to the Football Association of Ireland ahead of the Republic of Ireland’s Nations League fixtures against Israel on 27 September and 4 October, arguing that the political fallout has placed players in an “impossible” position.

The controversy intensified after Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, during his squad announcement, told reporters: “We’re not playing with genocide, we’re playing against genocide. We’re playing against Israel, we’re not playing with Israel.” The Israeli FA responded sharply on social media, writing that they had “not yet found a cure for stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy displayed by the Ireland Football team coach.”

Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin addressed the Israeli FA’s remarks at the United Nations on Tuesday, calling them “unacceptable.” But Houghton, speaking to the Irish Mirror, argued that government intervention had come too late and lacked substance.

“I thought the government would have had more say in it, so that a decision could be taken at a higher level,” the former Liverpool and Fulham midfielder said. “I thought they would have had a little more input into the situation.”

Houghton, 64, expressed sympathy for the players, who he believes have been left to bear the brunt of a dispute that should have been handled at a higher level. “Who it falls back on are the players. They are the ones that are out there. I hope they do get a bit of sympathy, because a lot of them, if not all of them, won’t really want to play it.”

He described the situation as one with no good outcome for the squad. “They are damned if they do and they are damned if they don’t. It’s one of those things where the players have got to get on with their job. They are playing away from home, there’ll be no Irish fans and it’s a game that no one really wants.”

Ireland’s Nations League schedule during the extended three-week international break also includes a trip to Kosovo and a home fixture against Austria, but it is the two Israel matches that have dominated the build-up and drawn significant political attention both in Ireland and internationally.