Israeli Politics04 October, 20262 min read
Heimir Hallgrimsson Says Israel Tried To Intimidate Ireland Over Spitting Allegations
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Israel allegedly tried to intimidate Ireland amid spitting allegations during Nations League clash. Hallgrimsson said Israel attempted intimidation during the Serbia match, amid half-time spitting allegations.
7 outlets told this the same way.
Spitting row in Serbia
Heimir Hallgrimsson said Israel were "trying to intimidate" his Republic of Ireland team amid allegations of spitting during Sunday's tense Uefa Nations League draw in Serbia. Hallgrimsson said he did not see the incident and told Off The Ball, "[It] was an accusation of spitting on someone but I didn't see it."
Ran Ben-Shimon said he "didn't see anything" at half-time when he was in the dressing room with his staff. The match ended 1-1 behind closed doors at TSC Arena, and the teams clashed at half-time as a voice on television pictures said "he spat on me" as players made their way down the tunnel.
Press conference erupts
Kieran Crowley ended Heimir Hallgrimsson's pre-match news conference abruptly after Israeli reporters asked questions that Hallgrimsson later called a "verbal attack".
Crowley said the allegations were "completely untrue" as the mood soured, and the FAI communications manager cut off the exchange after Hallgrimsson fielded the reporter's questions.
Al Jazeera described an Israeli journalist asking Hallgrimsson, "What do you say about the people that you support? Their ideology is based on murder," before Crowley stepped in to demand football questions.
Crowley also responded to an Israeli journalist's claim about racism by saying, "That’s a lie. You’ve just broadcast a lie," as the media event ended.
Boycott pressure and fallout
The FAI decided to fulfil both fixtures despite persistent calls to withdraw, and the BBC reported that the Stop The Game campaign, organised by Irish Sport for Palestine, staged protests before and during Thursday's game against Austria in Dublin. Gavin Bazunu said it would be "wrong" for him to participate in the games as he made himself unavailable, while the FAI decided to play the matches and the Irish players bowed their heads during Israel's national anthem.
Al Jazeera said the second leg would be played at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola in Serbia on Sunday, and it described Hallgrimsson saying it was "a game with a lot of emotions attached to it." Noticias de Israel said Gavin Bazunu refused to participate in the match against Israel scheduled for this Sunday in Debrecen, Hungary, and it said more than 160 Irish athletes signed an open letter from Irish Sports for Palestine urging the national team to boycott the matches.