Latest | Former player and draw ambassador Patrick Vieira draws Israel in the Uefa Nations League draw at Brussels Expo, Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Reuters/Benoit Tessier

Former player and draw ambassador Patrick Vieira draws Israel in the Uefa Nations League draw at Brussels Expo, Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Reuters/Benoit Tessier

Daniel McDonnell in Brussels

Today at 20:30

Heimir Hallgrimsson has reiterated his view that he does not understand why Israel are allowed to participate in European competitions while Russia are banned – but the Ireland manager says he will leave the matter of whether the contentious autumn Nations League games should be played to the FAI.

Hallgrimsson was left to face the difficult political questions created by a draw in Brussels that has pitted Ireland against Israel with FAI CEO David Courell and President Paul Cooke choosing to leave the venue without speaking to media on the subject. The FAI referred the travelling media to a brief statement released within a minute of the draw ending which asserted that they would fulfil the fixture.