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SportsQuiet 3d · day 4

Ireland coach calls Israel match 'playing against genocide,' sparks UN row

Heimir Hallgrímsson's refusal to field players against Israel escalates a diplomatic standoff that reached the UN General Assembly.

newest coverage 3d agosummary written 12h ago3 pieces NewswiresMastodonGoogle News

What to know

  • Ireland's soccer coach refused to field players for UEFA Nations League matches against Israel, calling it "playing against genocide," prompting Israel to attack his character publicly.
  • The dispute escalated to the UN General Assembly, where Irish PM Micheál Martin called for Israel to withdraw its "unacceptable remarks" while critiquing Israeli settlements.
  • The soccer conflict reflects years of diplomatic tensions: Ireland recognized Palestinian statehood in 2024, Israel closed its Dublin embassy in retaliation, and boycott campaigns have widened.
  • Two matches are scheduled to take place over the next three weeks despite widespread sentiment in both nations that they should not happen.

“the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank raises "the specter of ethnic cleansing"”

António Guterres, UN Secretary General · Yahoo Sports ↗

Heimir HallgrímssonHeimir Hallgrímsson Ireland national soccer coachIsrael Football Association Israeli sports governing bodyMicheál MartinMicheál Martin Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister)António GuterresAntónio Guterres UN Secretary General

Ireland coach calls Israel match 'playing against genocide,' sparks UN row
Yahoo Sports

How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 1 piece in one hour at Sep 23, 5 AM; 3 pieces over 4 days (2 articles · 1 post) Sep 23, 5 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 23, 6 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 23, 7 AM — quietSep 23, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 23, 9 AM — quietSep 23, 10 AM — quietSep 23, 11 AM — quietSep 23, 12 PM — quietSep 23, 1 PM — quietSep 23, 2 PM — quietSep 23, 3 PM — quietSep 23, 4 PM — quietSep 23, 5 PM — quietSep 23, 6 PM — quietSep 23, 7 PM — quietSep 23, 8 PM — quietSep 23, 9 PM — quietSep 23, 10 PM — quietSep 23, 11 PM — quietSep 24, 12 AM — quietSep 24, 1 AM — quietSep 24, 2 AM — quietSep 24, 3 AM — quietSep 24, 4 AM — quietSep 24, 5 AM — quietSep 24, 6 AM — quietSep 24, 7 AM — quietSep 24, 8 AM — quietSep 24, 9 AM — quietSep 24, 10 AM — quietSep 24, 11 AM — quietSep 24, 12 PM — quietSep 24, 1 PM — quietSep 24, 2 PM — quietSep 24, 3 PM — quietSep 24, 4 PM — quietSep 24, 5 PM — quietSep 24, 6 PM — quietSep 24, 7 PM — quietSep 24, 8 PM — quietSep 24, 9 PM — quietSep 24, 10 PM — quietSep 24, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quietToday, 9 AM — quietToday, 10 AM — quietToday, 11 AM — quietToday, 12 PM — quietToday, 1 PM — quietToday, 2 PM — quietToday, 3 PM — quietToday, 4 PM — quietToday, 5 PM — quiet 1–3
Sep 24yesterdaytodaynow · 6:49 PM ET
  1. 2

    Israel Football Association accuses Hallgrímsson of stupidity and hypocrisy

    The Israel Football Association responded to the coach's remarks with an angry social media post attacking his character and framing.

    “stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy…”
    — Israel Football Association
  2. 3

    Hallgrímsson says players refuse Israel matches over genocide claims

    Ireland's national soccer coach stated that none of his players want to participate in upcoming UEFA Nations League matches with Israel. He characterized the matchup as "playing against genocide."

    “none of his players want to participate in the upcoming matches with Israel, which he called "playing against genocide."”
    — Heimir Hallgrímsson
    1. 2 outlets Israel and Ireland wage a soccer war

      first by Salon.com, 3d ago · also Yahoo Sports

  3. 1

    Irish Taoiseach Martin raises dispute at UN General Assembly

    Micheál Martin addressed the UN General Assembly on Tuesday and called on Israeli authorities to withdraw their "unacceptable remarks" about Hallgrímsson, while also endorsing criticism of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

    “calling on Israeli authorities to withdraw their "unacceptable remarks" about Hallgrímsson…”
    — Micheál Martin