Hallgrimsson faces racism claims on eve of Ireland-Israel clash

BACKA TOPOLA, Serbia (AP):

Ireland’s press conference ahead of its contentious Nations League match against Israel was abruptly cut short yesterday after a journalist asked coach Heimir Hallgrimsson about alleged racist remarks made by Irish players during last week’s meeting between the teams.

Ireland defeated Israel 3-0 last Sunday, but only after players reportedly voted on whether to proceed with the match amid strong opposition in Ireland to Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Yesterday, an Israeli journalist alleged that Irish players made racist comments, prompting an immediate response from Football Association of Ireland (FAI) communications manager Kieran Crowley.

“That’s completely untrue,” Crowley said.

The press conference was then ended.

Today’s match, with Ireland designated as the home team, will be played in Backa Topola, Serbia, behind closed doors.

The FAI announced in June that the game would be moved to a neutral venue for “operational reasons” following widespread calls in Ireland for a boycott. The decision also came after the association’s own motion in November calling on UEFA to suspend Israel from club and international competitions.

The FAI has resisted calls for a boycott, arguing that the national team could face sanctions from UEFA. Ireland is set to co-host the 2028 European Championship alongside England, Wales and Scotland.

Black armbands

Last Sunday’s match was played in Debrecen, Hungary, where Irish players wore black armbands. The FAI was also investigating whether Ireland forward Adam Idah was the target of racial abuse during the game. A small number of Israel supporters were in attendance.

On Thursday, Ireland’s Nations League match against Austria in Dublin was briefly disrupted when protesters threw tennis balls bearing Palestinian flags onto the field.