Hallgrímsson says spitting claim was meant to intimidate Ireland
Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson addressed the alleged spitting incident at half‑time during the UEFA Nations League tie with Israel on 4 October 2026, saying the provocation was intended to intimidate his side. He praised his players for staying calm despite late fouls on Jayson Molumby and the emotional strain on midfielder Finn Azaz, whose family has Israeli roots.
Incident and accusations
Damien Doyle, Ireland’s fitness coach, claimed an Israeli player spat at him as the teams left the pitch at half‑time. Hallgrímsson said he would not comment in detail, adding that “that’s something that a disciplinary committee would probably look at.” He also noted that he had not spoken to any player about the alleged incident.
The Israel manager said he did not see the alleged spitting. A spokesman for the Israeli Football Association replied “No comment. I didn’t see anything.” When asked if he had spoken to any of his players, Hallgrímsson answered “no”.
Hallgrímsson praised his squad for not reacting to provocation. Mid‑fielder Jayson Molumby endured several late fouls but kept his composure. The manager highlighted the importance of staying calm under pressure.
He was clear that Ireland and Israel should not meet again in UEFA competitions. “It’s not ours to decide, that’s for UEFA,” he said, adding that strong support for Palestine in Ireland might influence the governing body. He warned that similar incidents could quickly escalate if not contained.
The manager claimed the squad emerged “100 percent stronger” after the episode. He described a leaked closed‑vote on whether to play Israel in Hungary, which became public “almost in real time”. Hallgrímsson said the situation helped identify both friends and enemies within the group.
He called the episode a “big test” of the team’s internal systems, the association and the media. Hallgrímsson said the leak exposed areas that need fixing, especially to avoid premature media speculation before the Euro finals. He stressed the need to improve information security moving forward.
Media coverage across sport
The controversy dominated the Soccer and League sections of the 42FM website, appearing alongside Rugby, Golf, Racing and Horse racing headlines. The LOI coverage also referenced the incident, while the Sport platform let readers follow Live video Review podcasts, Extra Stories and a Family‑focused Football discussion. The platform’s Upgrade feature let users see more content, including Boxing, Motorsport, Athletics, NFL and NBA updates, and to see the latest Video Review of the incident. Ryan Byrne’s reaction piece captured the tension.
Hallgrímsson singled out midfielder Finn Azaz for his personal ordeal, noting that the player’s mother and grandparents are of Israeli descent. He said wearing black armbands and standing during the national anthem was especially difficult for Azaz, and that leaving him out of the match was the right call. The manager added that Azaz’s continued presence would be valuable for the November Nations League campaign.
When asked about Azaz’s role in the remaining Nations League fixtures, Hallgrímsson replied, “I surely hope so. I haven’t asked, but there’s nothing that points to him quitting.” He affirmed that Azaz wants to be part of the squad for the Euro 2028 finals and has proven his quality on the pitch. The manager concluded that the team will carry forward the lessons learned from the incident.