Micheal Martin: Israel FA comments on Heimir Hallgrimsson 'unacceptable'
Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin has condemned the Israel Football Association for calling Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson 'ignorant' and 'hypocritical'. The dispute arose after Hallgrimsson made comments regarding the war in Gaza ahead of their upcoming Nations League matches.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the intersection of international sports and geopolitical tensions, specifically regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Martin was speaking from New York where he is attending the UN General Assembly
Irish taoiseach [prime minister] Micheal Martin said comments made by the Israel Football Association about the Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson are "unacceptable" and "should be withdrawn".
Israel's football governing body accused Hallgrimmson of "ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity" regarding comments made last week when he said: "We're not playing with genocide, we're playing against genocide. We're playing against Israel, we're not playing with Israel."
The teams are set to meet twice in the space of a week in the Nations League, with Israel's 'home' game in Debrecen, Hungary on Sunday, with the return fixture also in a neutral venue of Backa Topola, Serbia on 4 October.
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