Israel FA accuses Ireland manager Hallgrimsson of 'hypocrisy and stupidity' over genocide remarks

The Israel Football Association launched a fierce public attack on Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson on Monday night, accusing him of “hypocrisy and stupidity” after he described the upcoming Nations League matches between the two countries as playing “against genocide”.

Hallgrimsson made the remarks at last week’s squad announcement, where he also acknowledged that several of his players were uncomfortable about facing Israel. The Israel FA responded directly on social media, writing: “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 the Ireland Football team coach. We’re not playing with ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity, we’re playing against the coach who embodies them.”

The controversy surrounds two Nations League fixtures: Sunday’s opener in Debrecen, Hungary, and a designated “home” match for Ireland to be played in Serbia on 4 October. The Football Association of Ireland confirmed last week it would reluctantly proceed with both games after UEFA flatly rejected its request to be kept apart from Israel in the draw. The FAI cited the risk of “significant and lasting harm” to the association as the reason for continuing, and confirmed no tickets would be made available to Irish supporters for either fixture.

Opposition to the games has intensified ahead of the opening match. A group of more than 160 Irish sportspeople signed an open letter from the Irish Sport for Palestine Group calling on the FAI to reverse its decision. “This is a significant moment and with this moment you have an opportunity to do the right thing,” the letter read. “Not playing the game would be the most sporting thing you could do.”

Former Republic of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane also added his voice to the protests, writing 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 while 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.”

A separate group gathered outside the Irish squad’s hotel in Dublin on Monday evening to urge the FAI to reconsider, underlining the growing public pressure on the association in the days before the fixture.