Ireland quickly ended the press conference after an Israeli journalist made an accusation, just before a tense exchange.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) quickly stopped manager Heimir Hallgrimsson’s pre-match press conference ahead of their Nations League game against Israel after an Israeli journalist made a claim the FAI called “untrue.”
Last week, during Ireland’s 3-0 win over Israel in Debrecen, Hungary, some Israeli fans were accused of making racist chants aimed at Ireland’s striker Adam Idah. UEFA said they couldn’t investigate because the proper reporting steps weren’t followed at the time. Idah’s teammate Jayson Molumby said he heard the chants and told the match officials, who kept an ear out for any more abuse. But after the game, FAI officials were told no more racist chants were heard.
Hallgrimsson was speaking to the media as usual on Saturday before Sunday’s game, but the FAI had to stop the live press conference early. Near the end, an Israeli reporter took the microphone and accused the Irish players of making racist insults toward Israel during their last game. An FAI official quickly said, “That is completely untrue,” and ended the press conference.
The reporter argued, “I do my job, my friend. You can’t take the microphone from me.” When told he was spreading false information, he said, “They are not lying. That’s what they said. Don’t touch me, man.”
There was no UEFA official in the room—only Hallgrimsson and two FAI staff. One of them tried to move the Irish media to a different room. Journalist Gavin Cooney said there were “angry confrontations” both inside and outside while the separate conference for Irish media was happening.
Earlier in the conference, a different reporter asked about a recent incident where a co-pilot tried to take control of a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Hallgrimsson was also asked again about the possible racist abuse toward Idah. An FAI official confirmed they’re still investigating that.
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu will miss the game again. He returned for Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Austria but had pulled out before the first Israel game because of the “atrocities committed in the Gaza region.” An independent UN commission described Israel’s actions there as genocide last year, though Israel rejects that description.
FAI chief executive David Courell said most of the Irish team voted to play the match, which happened in Debrecen. Reports say the vote was 15-8 in favor.
“Everyone supports Gav,” Hallgrimsson said earlier. “I don’t want him to feel bad about his choice. It would have been better if he told me earlier, but he explained he changed his mind overnight and didn’t want to play. That’s understandable. No one forces a player to play.”
Udinese defender James Abankwah will also miss the game because he’s suspended. And captain Dara O’Shea has flown to England for the birth of his child and might miss the match, too. He also refused to shake hands with Israel’s captain Manor Solomon before their first game.