Republic of Ireland: Hallgrimsson accused of 'ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity'
The Israel FA has accused Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson of "ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity" in comments made last week.
On Monday, Israel's football body hit back on those comments on social media, saying: "We have contributed to the world and humanity in countless fields, earning an impressive number of Nobel Prizes along the way.
The Football Association of Ireland has not responded to the Israel FA's comments, with a protest also taking place at the Republic of Ireland team's hotel on Monday evening as pressure to boycott the fixtures continues to build.
In response, Israel launched a massive military offensive in Gaza, during which more than 73,000 people have been killed, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN.
More than 160 Irish sportspeople have signed an open letter by the Irish Sport for Palestine Group to urge a boycott of the games against Israel.
The letter states that the FAI, Uefa and the Irish government should have intervened before this stage, but there is still time to "show the power of sport to unite".
Also included in the 160 plus names are GAA's Padraig O'Hora, Joe Brolly, Colm O'Rourke, Michael Darragh Macauley, Philly McMahon, Valerie Mulcahy and Rena Buckley, as well as para-athlete Alan Dineen and ultimate frisbee's Stephen Jones, who both boycotted fixtures against Israel earlier this year.
"Putting on the Irish jersey and representing your country means something. But the Ireland we want represented is the one that remembers its roots in anti-colonial and anti-imperial resistance, which Irish sport played a large part of.
"Not playing the game would be the most sporting thing you could do. Through your leadership and courage, it would show the power of sport to unite, remind us of the shared values that connect us all, and have an impact far beyond the game."
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Dive deeper
- The Israel FA has accused Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson of "ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity" in comments made last week.
- On Monday, Israel's football body hit back on those comments on social media, saying: "We have contributed to the world and humanity in countless fields, earning an impressive number of Nobel Prizes along the way.
- The Football Association of Ireland has not responded to the Israel FA's comments, with a protest also taking place at the Republic of Ireland team's hotel on Monday evening as pressure to boycott the fixtures continues to build.
- In response, Israel launched a massive military offensive in Gaza, during which more than 73,000 people have been killed, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN.
- More than 160 Irish sportspeople have signed an open letter by the Irish Sport for Palestine Group to urge a boycott of the games against Israel.