Taoiseach says Israeli FA remarks about Ireland manager are ‘unacceptable’

The Taoiseach said Israel should withdraw its criticism of Hallgrímsson after the Ireland manager’s comments about playing against genocide

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has backed Ireland soccer manager Heimir Hallgrímsson and called for the Israeli Football Association to withdraw its “unacceptable remarks” accusing him of “stupidity”.

The Ireland manager said last week that his team would be “not playing with genocide, we are playing against genocide” when it takes on Israel in the Nations League in the coming weeks. These comments were echoed by FAI chief executive David Courell.