Heimir Hallgrimsson: We are playing against Israel, not with them
Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson made a controversial statement ahead of the Nations League matches against Israel.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 at / Author: Michael Kranewitter
Ireland national team head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson has made a strong statement ahead of the upcoming Nations League matches against Israel. The coach emphasized that he views these encounters as more than just a sporting competition given the current situation in Gaza.
We are not playing with genocide, we are playing against genocide. We are playing against Israel, we are not playing with Israel. Heimir Hallgrimsson
The first match between the teams is set for September 27 in Debrecen, with the return leg scheduled for October 4 in Backa Topola. Both games have been relocated to neutral venues.
The fixtures have sparked significant public debate in Ireland. The Football Association of Ireland previously requested that UEFA avoid pairing the two nations in future draws and urged the governing body to review Israel's participation in European tournaments. UEFA rejected these requests, citing security procedures.
Hallgrimsson's comments have already drawn a reaction from the Israel Football Association, which criticized the coach's remarks and noted that they may appeal to UEFA.