Irish athletes urge boycott of Israel matches; Israel FA hits back
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Neutral summary
More than 160 Irish athletes, including Olympian Ciara Mageean, former footballer Louise Quinn, ex-rugby flyhalf Tony Ward, and boxers Tyrone McKenna and Eric Donovan, have signed an open letter urging the national football team to boycott their Nations League fixtures against Israel. The Israel Football Association (IFA) has reacted furiously to Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson's comments that his team would be 'playing against genocide' in the upcoming matches. In a social media post, the IFA accused the coach of 'stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy', while touting the 'impressive number of Nobel Prizes' won by Israelis. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin has backed the coach, saying 'Israel cannot continue to deny what the world knows'. The Republic of Ireland players are set to discuss a possible protest at a meeting on Friday, after their match against Kosovo. The two Nations League matches between Ireland and Israel are scheduled for 27 September and 4 October at neutral venues, with no away fans. The Football Association of Ireland had previously sought to have Israel suspended from competitions.
How it was framed
Outlets: 22. Countries: 10. Facts in the shared core: 4.
Publication timeline
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RTÉ News (outlet profile)
Sportspeople ask ROI players to boycott Israel fixtures. Over 160 Irish sportspeople have signed an open letter to the Irish senior men's national football team, urging them to "act collectively with conscience" and ref…
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TheJournal.ie (outlet profile)
Over 160 Irish athletes sign open letter calling on Irish football team to boycott Israel fixtures. Signatories include Olympian Ciara Mageean, Gaelic games great Rena Buckley, and former rugby international Tony Ward.
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Beta (outlet profile)
FS Izraela razmatra mogućnost žalbe Uefi zbog izjava selektora Irske o genocidu. Fudbalski savez Izraela razmatra mogućnost podnošenja zvanične žalbe Evropskoj fudbalskoj uniji (Uefa) zbog izjava selektora reprezentacij…
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Danas (outlet profile)
FS Izraela razmatra mogućnost žalbe UEFA zbog izjava selektora Irske o genocidu. Fudbalski savez Izraela razmatra mogućnost podnošenja zvanične žalbe Evropskoj fudbalskoj uniji (UEFA) zbog izjava selektora reprezentacij…
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RTÉ News (outlet profile)
Israel FA hit out at Hallgrimsson's genocide comments. The Israel FA has hit out at Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, insisting his recent comments embody "stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy".
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La Vanguardia (outlet profile)
Presión del deporte irlandés a su selección para boicotear a Israel. Entre los firmantes se encuentran la atleta olímpica Ciara Mageean, la exfutbolista Louise Quinn, el ex apertura de rugby Tony Ward y los boxeadores T…
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Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)
‘Stupidity and hypocrisy’: Israel FA launch scathing attack on Republic of Ireland and Heimir Hallgrimsson
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Haaretz (outlet profile)
Israeli soccer body slams 'stupidity, ignorance' of Ireland coach over genocide comments. Heimir Hallgrimsson said his team would be 'playing against genocide' in its upcoming matches against Israel
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The Jerusalem Post (outlet profile)
Irish athletes group urges national team to boycott matches against Israeli soccer team. Irish Sport for Palestine said the signatories included Olympian Ciara Mageean, former footballer Louise Quinn, former rugby flyha…
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Mondo (outlet profile)
Izrael napao selektora Irske: "Još nismo pronašli lek za glupost, neznanje i licemerje"
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Asharq Al-Awsat (outlet profile)
Irish Athletes Group Urges National Team to Boycott Israel Fixtures
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TheJournal.ie (outlet profile)
Israel FA accuses Ireland football manager of ‘stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy'. The FAI have declined to issue a response to the tweet.
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Israel accuse Ireland manager of ‘hypocrisy and stupidity’ over ‘genocide’ comments. The Israel Football Association have reacted furiously after Heimir Hallgrimsson said the Republic of Ireland will be ‘playing against…
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Daily Mail (outlet profile)
Israel's FA accuse Ireland manager of 'ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity' after he commented 'we're playing against genocide' before match which critics want cancelled over Gaza. The Icelandic boss used forceful langua…
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Israel fume over Ireland manager’s ‘genocide’ remarks ahead of Nations League clash
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RMC Sport (outlet profile)
Appel au boycott, propos "stupides", accusations de génocide... Grosse tension autour du match Irlande-Israël. Les deux rencontres de Ligue des nations entre l'Irlande et l'Israël, les 27 septembre et le 4 octobre, susc…
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The Jerusalem Post (outlet profile)
'No cure for stupidity': Israel's Football Association blasts Irish coach's calls to boycott match. The coach's comments followed an open letter asking the Ireland national football team to boycott its upcoming UEFA Nat…
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Why are Republic of Ireland playing against Israel?. The Republic of Ireland face a double-header against Israel in the Uefa Nations League, with their ‘home’ fixture taking place in Serbia amid calls to boycott the fix…
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La Repubblica (outlet profile)
Israele attacca il ct dell’Irlanda: “Non abbiamo trovato la cura contro stupidità e ignoranza”. La replica alle parole di Hallgrimsson sul genocidio
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The National (UAE) (outlet profile)
Israel vs Ireland: Boycott calls, protests and the Nations League dispute explained
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Kicker (outlet profile)
Israel reagiert scharf gen Irland: "Ignoranz, Heuchelei und Dummheit". Vor den beiden Nations-League-Duellen zwischen Irland und Israel ist die Atmosphäre vergiftet. Nach "Völkermord"-Aussagen des irischen Coaches hat s…
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TheJournal.ie (outlet profile)
Ireland’s Nations League games against Israel. Ireland will play Israel twice in the coming weeks, despite widely articulated concern and protest over the fixtures. Niall and Sinead discuss the background to these games…
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TheJournal.ie (outlet profile)
Israel FA accused of trying to 'sportswash' image after attack on Heimir Hallgrímsson. The football association accused the Ireland manager of “stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy” after comments he made about the team “…
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Morning Star (outlet profile)
Israel FA launches furious attack on Republic of Ireland boss. Campaigners call for Ireland to boycott Sunday’s opener in Hungary
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Protests and fiery comments as Ireland and Israel prepare for soccer doubleheader. Tensions are high ahead of an international soccer doubleheader between Ireland and Israel
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BBC News (outlet profile)
Neutral venues and no 'away' fans - how Israel v Republic of Ireland became so contentious. BBC Sport explores the backdrop to the Republic of Ireland's matches against Israel, amid fraught tensions between the nations.
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Le Parisien (outlet profile)
« Génocide », « boycott », « stupidité », « hypocrisie »... Entre l’Irlande et Israël, le ton monte avant les matchs de Ligue des nations
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Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)
Israel players will refuse to swap shirts with Republic of Ireland... but Israeli FA yet to make formal UEFA complaint over Heimir Hallgrimsson
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Middle East Eye (outlet profile)
Israel Football Association cites Nobel Prize winners in rant at Ireland coach. Israel Football Association cites Nobel Prize winners in rant at Ireland coach Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 09/22/2026 - 14:43 Ireland's…
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CBS News (outlet profile)
Irish athletes urge men's soccer team to boycott matches against Israel. The Irish government has been one of the most vocal critics of the Israeli government in recent years over its military action in Gaza.
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RTÉ News (outlet profile)
Kosovo v Republic of Ireland: All you need to know. Ireland's Nations League build-up has centred around Sunday's clash with Israel, but before that they open up against Kosovo as they try and improve on a dreadful firs…
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RTÉ News (outlet profile)
Israeli FA criticism of Hallgrimsson 'unacceptable'. The Taoiseach has said the Israel Football Association's criticisms of Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson are "unacceptable".
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RTÉ News (outlet profile)
Heimir on Israel row: 'Not clever' to take the headlines. Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has expressed gratitude at the support he has received in the wake of the Israeli FA's furious reaction to his co…
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RMC Sport (outlet profile)
"Israël ne peut pas continuer à nier ce que le monde sait": le Premier ministre irlandais soutient son sélectionneur après ses propos sur la Palestine. En marge de l'Assemblée générale de l'ONU à New York mardi, le Prem…
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Asharq Al-Awsat (outlet profile)
Irish PM Backs Football Manager After Israel FA Criticism
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Le Parisien (outlet profile)
Football : « Israël ne peut pas continuer à nier ce que le monde sait », le Premier ministre irlandais défend son sélectionneur après ses propos sur Gaza
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20 Minutes (outlet profile)
Irlande : « Des propos inacceptables »… Le gouvernement soutient le sélectionneur après des critiques d’Israël. Le Premier ministre Micheal Martin s’exprimait en marge de l’Assemblée générale de l’ONU à New York
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TheJournal.ie (outlet profile)
Spectre of Israel follows Ireland ahead of Nations League opener in Kosovo. Taoiseach Micheál Martin says Israeli FA should withdraw its personal attack on manager Heimir Hallgrímsson as games continued to be overshadow…
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Ireland manager responds to Israel criticism after ‘genocide’ comments. Hallgrimsson has received support from the Irish taoiseach but admitted that his comments saying Ireland will be ‘playing against genocide’ were ‘n…
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TheJournal.ie (outlet profile)
Ireland boss 'grateful' for Taoiseach's support over Israel with players set for talks on Friday. Stand-in captain Dara O’Shea insists squad will not ‘brush over’ debate as they keep focus on Kosovo game for now.
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Ireland boss addresses ‘genocide’ remarks after being accused of ‘ignorance’ by Israel
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The Independent (outlet profile)
Republic of Ireland players to discuss staging protest before playing Israel. Captain Dara O’Shea said the squad will meet following the match against Kosovo on Thursday and that a decision will be made ‘as one’
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Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)
‘We will meet on Friday and act as one’: Republic of Ireland ace says squad will delay debate on Israel until after Kosovo match
Factual core
- The Republic of Ireland and Israel are scheduled to play each other in upcoming matches.
- The Israeli Football Association criticized Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson for his comments about genocide.
- Hallgrimsson had previously made remarks referring to genocide.
- The Israeli statement said they had not found a cure for stupidity and ignorance.