Israel FA accuses Ireland manager of ‘ignorance and hypocrisy’ after genocide comment
Jump to content Sections UK Edition
Subscribe now Log in Login icon Follow us on: More from The Telegraph Ben Rumsby Show biography !Ben Rumsby Ben has been the Telegraph’s Sports Investigations Reporter since 2018. He was previously Sport News Correspondent. Before joining the Telegraph in 2013, Ben spent more than eight years at the Press Association, including as a football and rugby reporter. He can be contacted at ben.rumsby@telegraph.co.uk or Published 21 September 2026 9:53pm BST Save This feature is available for registered users. Please register or log in to continue RegisterLog in Comment speech bubble icon 206 Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link
Gift this article free Gift article Give full access to this article, free time. You have 15 articles left to gift, this month. Log in or Subscribe Copy link
Add us as preferred source !Heimir Hallgrimsson Heimir Hallgrimsson also criticised Israel last year, arguing the football team should be banned Credit: Getty Images/Stephen McCarthy Ben Rumsby Show biography !Ben Rumsby Ben has been the Telegraph’s Sports Investigations Reporter since 2018. He was previously Sport News Correspondent. Before joining the Telegraph in 2013, Ben spent more than eight years at the Press Association, including as a football and rugby reporter. He can be contacted at ben.rumsby@telegraph.co.uk or Published 21 September 2026 9:53pm BST The Israel Football Association has accused Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson of “stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy” after he said: “We’re playing against genocide.” Sunday’s Nations League game between the two countries is fast becoming a grudge match in the wake of comments made by Hallgrimsson upon naming his squad for the fixture last week. “We are not playing with genocide; we are playing against genocide,” the former Iceland manager said. “We are playing against Israel; we are not playing with Israel.” The remarks provoked an outcry in Israel, which has repeatedly denied that the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians, in response to the October 7 terrorist attack in 2023, constituted genocide. The IFA posted on X on Monday night: “We have contributed to the world and humanity in countless fields, earning an impressive number of Nobel Prizes along the way. “Unfortunately, we have not yet found a cure for stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy displayed by the @IrelandFootball team coach. We’re not playing with ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity, we’re playing against the coach who embodies them.” The statement followed reports in Israel that the IFA was considering lodging a complaint with Uefa about Hallgrimsson, who also stood by comments he made last year about being unable to understand why Russia had been banned from world football over Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, but Israel had not over its actions in Gaza. Israel are, however, prohibited from playing their matches at home for security reasons and Sunday’s game against Ireland will take place in Debrecen, Hungary. Next month’s return fixture will also be played at a neutral venue in Serbia amid protests in Ireland over the national team’s refusal to boycott it. It emerged on Monday that 170 athletes have signed a letter addressed to Hallgrimsson’s squad by the group Irish Sport for Palestine, which appealed directly to them to refuse to play. “This moment symbolises something deeper, it is bigger than sport,” the letter read. “Not playing the game would be the most sporting thing you could do.” Recommended Kneecap back calls for Ireland to boycott Israel matches Read more Join the conversation Show 206 comments The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. Please review our commenting policy. Copy link
The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. Please review our commenting policy. Related Topics Israel-Hamas War, Republic of Ireland Football Team, Israel
License this content You need to be a subscriber to join the conversation. Find out more here. Log In Subscribe Advertisement More stories More from football Gianni Infantino: I am open to Fifa reform Save !Gianni Infantino
Israel FA accuses Ireland manager of ‘ignorance and hypocrisy’ after genocide comment Save !Heimir Hallgrimsson
Jason Burt Thomas Tuchel left with sense that England are becoming less of a priority again Save Jonathan Trott emerges as England coach-in-waiting with Lions role Save This is the blueprint to beat Arsenal Save Thomas Tuchel hit by mass England withdrawals Save Six things we learnt from Premier League’s first five games Save Granit Xhaka admits he faked taking Covid vaccine Save
More from The Telegraph Football betting guides Commercial content produced by Telegraph Media Group Premier League top-four odds: Brighton cut to 3/1 after Arsenal win Next Premier League manager sacked odds: Winless De Zerbi 2/1 Premier League relegation odds: Crystal Palace cut to 2/1 Premier League winner odds: Manchester City in to 5/4 after perfect start Free bets and betting offers | 40+ new bonuses | September 2026 Bet of the day – Monday
Free bets
Bet of the day
Premier League winner odds
Racing offers
Football tips
* Best betting sites
This feature is available for registered users. Please register or log in to continue RegisterLog in