The Israel Football Association has described Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson’s use of the word genocide as the embodiment of “stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy.”
During last week’s squad announcement in Abbotstown, Hallgrímsson was asked about how difficult it would be to keep his players focused on football during the upcoming Nations League campaign.
“We are not playing with genocide, we are playing against genocide,” he said. “We are playing against Israel; we are not playing with Israel.”
Following stories from Israeli media outlets which highlighted the Hallgrímsson’s comments, the Israel FA tweeted on Monday evening: “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 Republic of Ireland team coach. We’re not playing with ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity, we’re playing against the coach who embodies them.”
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 @IrelandFootball team coach. We’re not playing with…
— ISRAEL FA (@ISRAELFA) September 21, 2026
On Sunday, Israeli news outlets reported the Israel FA is considering lodging a complaint with Uefa concerning the Ireland manager, however, no such complaint had been received by Uefa as of Monday evening.
Hallgrímsson also stood over a statement he made last year about being unable to understand why Russia were banned by Fifa and Uefa following the invasion of Ukraine, yet Israel have not been sanctioned for the country’s actions in Palestine.
Israel travel to play Austria in Linz on Thursday in their opening Nations League fixture before their ‘home’ tie against the Republic of Ireland on Sunday at Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary.
International and European club games have not been held in Israel since October 2023 due to security concerns. The FAI moved Ireland’s home match against Israel, which will be played on October 4th, from Dublin to Backa Topola in Serbia citing “operational challenges” that could “impact on the delivery of the game on home soil”.
Even in this unusual international window, the Ireland side to face Kosovo in Pristina on Thursday is beginning to take shape.
An injury to Harvey Vale before QPR’s game against Preston North End on Saturday, and Josh Cullen’s ongoing recovery from knee surgery has whittled down the midfield options to two from Jayson Molumby, Jason Knight and Conor Coventry.
Molumby is not guaranteed his place at West Brom, but Hallgrímsson selected the Waterford man for the World Cup playoff against the Czech Republic last March.
St Mirren’s Killian Phillips has been added to the squad to cover for Vale and Jamie McGrath, both of whom were withdrawn on Sunday evening.
Knight could do a job at right wing back, as Jake O’Brien recently made it clear to Everton manager David Moyes that he wants to play centre half.
Alternatively, O’Brien could start wide right, or James Abankwah’s impressive showing for Udinese in Serie A might be rewarded with a fifth cap.
Dara O’Shea will captain Ireland in the absence of Nathan Collins, who’s ruled out due to injury. Photograph: Lewis Storey/Getty Images
Bosun Lawal is named in the travelling party although he is not expected to feature against Kosovo or Israel having missed Stoke City’s last three games.
Lawal is highly rated by Hallgrímsson, so he could return against Austria at the Aviva Stadium on October 1st.
Nathan Collins is dealing with a calf injury, so Dara O’Shea will captain the team. John Egan’s return to the Premier League with Hull City presumably leaves one centre back role to be filled by O’Brien, Abankwah, or Sheffield United’s English-born defender Liam Kitching. That is presuming Liam Scales starts at left wing back ahead of Ryan Manning or Joel Bagan.
In attack, Finn Azaz and Chiedozie Ogbene are established behind Troy Parrott, although Jack Moylan’s two goals for Cardiff against Charlton last Saturday, and Owen Elding’s form since moving from Sligo Rovers to Hibernian, give Hallgrímsson options.
Meanwhile, 170 athletes have signed a letter sent to the Ireland squad by the group Irish Sport for Palestine, appealing directly to the players to boycott the Israel games.
“This moment symbolises something deeper, it is bigger than sport,” the letter signed by Ciara Mageean, Tony Ward, Dr David Hickey, Philly McMahon, Louise Quinn and others read. “Not playing the game would be the most sporting thing you could do.”
Hickey was among the protesters outside the Ireland team hotel in Castleknock on Monday evening.