Israel FA slams Heimir Hallgrimsson over fierce remarks

The Israel Football Association has sharply accused Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson of "ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity" following remarks he made last week. The verbal clash comes as the national team faces mounting public pressure over scheduled fixtures against Israel.

On Monday, the Israeli football body hit back via social media, stating that the nation has contributed immeasurably to the world and humanity, earning an impressive number of Nobel Prizes along the way. Meanwhile, the Football Association of Ireland has not issued a response, and a protest took place outside the Republic of Ireland team hotel on Monday evening.

The controversy traces back to the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. In response, Israel launched a massive military offensive in Gaza, which the United Nations estimates has killed over 70,000 Palestinians. Israel has consistently denied allegations of genocide or war crimes, maintaining that its military actions in Gaza constitute justified self-defense.

Pressure within Ireland has intensified significantly, with more than 160 Irish sportspeople signing an open letter organized by the Irish Sport for Palestine Group to demand a boycott of the games. The Republic of Ireland is due to face Israel on September 27 in Hungary, followed by an away fixture in Serbia on October 4.

Signatories of the letter include prominent figures such as Olympian Ciara Mageean, former women's team footballer Louise Quinn, ex-rugby fly-half Tony Ward—who previously boycotted a rugby tour to South Africa—alongside boxers Tyrone McKenna and Eric Donovan. The letter argues that while the FAI, UEFA, and the Irish government should have intervened earlier, there remains an opportunity to demonstrate the unifying power of sports.