Heimir Hallgrimsson: 'It wasn’t clever of me' to take focus off Kosovo clash

Dara O'Shea said Ireland's players will discuss any form of protest around the matches against Israel once their clash with Kosovo is over

Heimir Hallgrímsson: 'We're thankful for all the support we get because this is a tricky time for us.' Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Heimir Hallgrímsson admitted this is a "tricky time" for his Ireland squad as he expressed regret his comments on Israel had overshadowed the Nations League game against Kosovo. 

After the Ireland manager defended Ireland’s decision to fulfil the upcoming matches against Israel by saying “we’re playing against genocide, not with genocide”, the opponents accused him of “stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy.” 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Tuesday in New York branded the Israel FA comments as "unacceptable", insisting they should be withdrawn.

Hallgrímsson and his squad are in Pristina to face Kosovo on Thursday in the first leg of the quadruple header but his pre-match press conference was again dominated by questions on the matches taking place on consecutive Sundays in neutral countries of Hungary and Serbia.

“We're grateful for all the support we have but creating and taking over maybe the headlines at the moment, from what I said in last press meeting, is taking the attention away from maybe what's most important – the game against Kosovo,” said the manager.

“That was not the purpose. Maybe from a leadership point of view it wasn’t clever of me to take the attention like this.

“I need to be focused on the game, the players need to be focused on the game, but we're thankful for all the support we get because this is a tricky time for us.” 

Dara O’Shea, who replaces the injured Nathan Collins as captain, flanked his manager and admitted the players would discuss any form of protest on Friday once this game is completed.

“Of course it's a difficult situation and an unusual one for ourselves to find ourselves in,” said the Ipswich Town skipper.

“But I think, for me, first and foremost, at club level or international level, it's important that we all do come together and we all speak openly.

“We've got to respect each other's opinions and each other's views and really sit down and take the time because it deserves the time to talk about. It's the main thing and it's something that can't be brushed over.

“I do think that whatever decision that we go through as players is taken as one and everybody's views is respected as well.”