'Let the Irish stew in their hatred for us': Israel media reaction to Ireland draw

The 3-0 victory over Israel was the obvious highlight but again there will be some lamenting over the fact that they couldn’t hang onto their lead against the Israelis in their most recent meeting on Sunday night, which was played at an empty stadium in Backa Topola, Northern Serbia rather than at a full Aviva stadium in Dublin.

Those results leave Ireland sitting third in Group 3 of League B, level on points with Kosovo who are second on the head-to-head record while Austria are three points clear of both at the top, and Israel are three points adrift of both at the bottom.

But the main discussions over the last few weeks (and months) haven’t been about on the pitch matters. And now the matches have been played, the main talking points remain what has happened off the field.

“Let the Irish stew in their hatred for us in their dressing room and let’s hope we don’t get drawn against them in the future,” an Israeli commentator said just before the final whistle on Sunday night.

The Irish players again refused to shake their opponents’ hands before and after the match and they again decided to bow their heads when Israel’s national anthem, Hatikvah, was played.

“It happened again: Ireland’s players bowed their heads during Hatikvah,” was the headline in Ynet, the digital platform of the Yediot Aharonot newspaper, while Channel 12’s online platform wrote, “Once again the Irish disgraced the anthem and did not shake hands.

Israel’s largest-circulation daily newspaper, Yisrael Hayom, also had their say writing; “Just like the first game, the most important thing for the Irish team was to show disrespect.

“In a series of petty and stupid gestures, including showing disrespect to Hatikvah, they ruined the sporting element of the game and came away looking small-minded.”

The criticism didn’t just come from the written press as one panellist on Channel 12 television’s Morning News show on Monday added: “The hypocrisy of the Irish is unbelievable.

“Not long ago they shook hands with the Afghan national (cricket) side – that’s the same Taliban that oppresses and kills women. That’s okay but when it comes to the Jews it’s not okay. This is pure anti-Semitism.”

Perhaps even more criticism may have followed had two Israeli journalists not been banned by Uefa from attending the post-match press conference.

Ireland's pre-match press conference on Saturday was cut short after the duo asked Heimir Hallgrimsson questions about the flydubai incident and alleged racist abuse from Irish players in the first Nations League match between the two countries.