Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin has condemned the remarks made by the Israel Football Association against Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson, urging that the comments be retracted. This statement follows a heated exchange initiated by Hallgrímsson, who likened Ireland’s upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Israel to “playing against genocide.”

The Israel Football Association reacted sharply to Hallgrímsson’s statement, labeling it as “stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy.” Prime Minister Martin, speaking from New York during the UN General Assembly, defended the Irish coach’s comments and highlighted ongoing concerns about the humanitarian conditions in Gaza. He reiterated that the criticism from the Israeli side should be withdrawn.

The controversy arises as the Republic of Ireland and Israel prepare to face each other twice in the UEFA Nations League. Their first encounter is slated for September 27 in Debrecen, Hungary, with a subsequent match set for October 4 in Bačka Topola, Serbia. Both games are scheduled to occur in neutral venues, with the latter being played behind closed doors.

The fixtures have sparked debate within Ireland, prompting some sports figures to call for a boycott. Despite the controversy, the Football Association of Ireland has confirmed that the matches will proceed, citing potential repercussions of withdrawing from the scheduled fixtures.