Heimir Hallgrimsson says focusing on Israel distracts from crucial Nations League clash

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson thanked supporters after the Israeli Football Association’s angry response to his remarks about the UEFA Nations League, but warned that drawing attention to Israel was "not clever" and risked diverting focus from the upcoming game against Kosovo.

Backlash from the Israeli FA

Hallgrimsson’s comment – "we're not playing with genocide, we’re playing against genocide. We’re playing against Israel, we’re not playing with Israel" – sparked a furious reaction from the Israeli FA, which accused him of "stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy". The federation’s statement was widely reported in sport media and amplified by a Journalist’s coverage.

Speaking in New York at the United Nations General Assembly, Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin defended Hallgrimsson, calling the Israeli FA’s criticism "unacceptable" and insisting that Israel cannot continue to deny what the world knows.

Upcoming fixtures and neutral venues

Ireland’s next Nations League match against Israel will be played in Hungary on Sunday, while the second "home" game has been relocated to Backa Topola in Serbia on 4 October. Both fixtures are set on neutral ground for security reasons.

Hallgrimsson admits his Israel remarks were ill‑judged as federation lashes out

The opening group game against Kosovo is scheduled for Thursday in Pristina, and Hallgrimsson stressed that his priority must be the players’ preparation for that encounter, not the political controversy.

In a press conference at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Kosovo, Hallgrimsson reiterated his gratitude for the support received and reiterated that the focus should remain on the footballing challenge, not the headlines.

Ireland set Friday meeting to confront Israel game amid boycott

He added, "From a leadership point of view it was not clever for me to take the attention away from what is most important – the game and the players." The manager’s remarks underline the delicate balance between sport and politics in the Nations League.