Republic of Ireland: Irish sportspeople urge men's football team to boycott Israel game
Republic of Ireland football manager Heimir Hallgrimsson faces backlash from the Israel FA after suggesting his team is playing against 'genocide' during upcoming matches. Over 160 Irish sportspeople have signed a letter calling for a boycott of the games against Israel.
Why it matters
Highlights the intersection of international sports and geopolitical conflict, reflecting growing pressure on athletic organizations to take political stances.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Hallgrimsson's side is due to play Israel twice
The Israel FA has accused Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson of "ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity" in comments made last week.
During his squad announcement for the upcoming Nations League games which include two fixtures against Israel on 27 September and 4 October, Hallgrimsson said: "We're not playing with genocide, we're playing against genocide. We're playing against Israel, we're not playing with Israel," when the subject of keeping his players focused on the games was raised.
On Monday, Israel's football body hit back on those comments on social media, saying: "We have contributed to the world and humanity in countless fields, earning an impressive number of Nobel Prizes along the way.
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