Israel FA hits back at Hallgrimsson over 'genocide' remark

The Israel FA issued a statement in response to the Ireland head coach's comments

During a press conference last week, Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said: 'We are not playing with genocide, we are playing against genocide'. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Tension is building ahead of Sunday’s Uefa Nations League game in Debrecen after Israel took umbrage at Heimir Hallgrímsson’s use of the word 'genocide'.

The Ireland manager made the reference during his squad announcement last week in defending their position to fulfil the two fixtures amid a public backlash.

“We are not playing with genocide, we are playing against genocide,” the Icelander said during a section of media coverage that appeared on Sunday. “We are playing against Israel; we are not playing with Israel.” 

FAI chief executive David Courell reiterated the manager’s view the following day by way of justifying the association’s determination to proceed with the games, the second of which is also in a neutral country, Serbia’s Backa Topola, on Sunday week.

“We have contributed to the world and humanity in countless fields, earning an impressive number of Nobel Prizes along the way,” the Israel FA statement began, ahead of their visit to Austria on Thursday.

“Unfortunately, we have not yet found a cure for stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy displayed by the Ireland team coach. We’re not playing with ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity, We’re playing against the coach who embodies them.” 

This time last year, the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

That was just part of the reason a motion from FAI membership was raised to Uefa, ultimately unsuccessfully, seeking the banning of all Israeli national and club teams.

Earlier, a spokesman for the Israeli FA suggested they wouldn’t allow the FAI’s comments to go unchallenged while local media reports claimed a complaint to Uefa was imminent.

Back at the Irish base of the Castleknock Hotel, a group of protesters from the Stop The Game campaign gained access to the hotel’s grounds before being eventually prevented from entering the front doors by public order members of An Garda Síochána.

Killian Phillips has been drafted into the Ireland squad for the quadruple header that begins against Kosovo on Thursday night in Pristina.

Midfield options were reduced by weekend injuries to Harvey Vale and Jamie McGrath, necessitating cover being sought in the St Mirren man.

Stoke City’s Bosun Lawal isn’t expected to be available for the first match but his injury recovery timeline has him in line to be available at some point before the window concludes on Sunday week.

After Monday’s training session at FAI headquarters was held beyond the glare of the media, the party will embark on their trip to Kosovo today. However, it is the two matches against Israel, either side of Austria’s visit to Lansdowne Road on October 1, that is consuming all the airtime and attention.