"Ireland cannot deny what the world knows": Irish Prime Minister supports coach over Palestine comments

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin backed the national football team's coach on Tuesday. This follows critical comments the coach made about Israel, a team Ireland is scheduled to play in the Nations League.

Heimir Hallgrímsson, the Irish team's coach from Iceland, stated last week, "We are not playing with genocide, we are playing against genocide. We are playing against Israel, we are not playing with Israel." This was before two Nations League B matches on September 27 and October 4.

The Israeli Football Association responded Monday, calling Hallgrímsson's remarks "stupidity, ignorance, and hypocrisy." The Irish Prime Minister deemed the Israeli federation's statement "unacceptable" and called for its withdrawal. Speaking to reporters at the UN General Assembly in New York, Micheal Martin said the Irish coach's stance reflected concerns about the death toll and destruction in Gaza. "Ireland cannot deny what the world knows," Martin stated. Ireland is a significant supporter of the Palestinian cause in Europe.

Calls to boycott the match

The upcoming matches against Israel are facing strong opposition in Ireland. Over 160 athletes signed an open letter urging a boycott of the games. Protesters gathered outside the national team's hotel in Dublin on Monday, with more demonstrations planned nationwide before the matches.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) passed a motion in November 2025 requesting UEFA to suspend Israel from international competitions, but European football officials offered no support. The FAI stated it had limited options and was obligated to play the two Nations League matches to avoid sporting and financial sanctions.

Ireland's home match, originally set for October 4, has been moved to Backa Topola, Serbia, due to security concerns. The September 27 match, officially Israel's home game, will also be played on neutral ground in Debrecen, Hungary.