In Serbia, a football media briefing involving the Republic of Ireland turned sharply away from the match when Israeli journalists pressed manager Heimir Hallgrimsson on matters outside the pitch. The session was cut short after a series of confrontational questions and allegations.
Quick facts
- Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson was attending a press conference in Serbia.
- Israeli journalists raised questions unrelated to football, including an allegation of racism during the match.
- FAI communications official Kieran Crowley said only football questions would be answered.
- The microphone was removed and Hallgrimsson left as tension rose in the room.
- Israel’s football association has not filed a UEFA complaint, though it may consider doing so after the game.
One early question challenged Hallgrimsson over people he was said to support and referred to a recent incident on a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight. In that episode, a co-pilot reportedly attacked the pilot before passengers intervened and took control of the situation.
Crowley, representing the Football Association of Ireland, moved quickly to stop that line of questioning. “We will not answer those types of questions today,” he said, insisting that the briefing should be restricted to football matters.
The exchanges did not settle. Another Israeli reporter then confronted Hallgrimsson with claims that Irish players had called Israeli opponents “monkeys” during the match.
With the atmosphere worsening among the assembled reporters, the microphone was taken away and the Irish manager was led from the press conference.
Israel considers next steps
Israel’s football association said its players had reported unusual verbal abuse during the game. Its communications representative said the players described insults in exchanges with Irish counterparts that they felt had not occurred in other matches.
No formal case has yet been submitted to UEFA over the alleged racist remarks. The association said it would assess the possibility of a complaint once the match had concluded.
