The Israel Football Association (IFA) responded on Monday to comments made by Republic of Ireland national team coach Heimir Hallgrímsson regarding a potential boycott of an upcoming match between Israel and Ireland.
In a statement posted on X/Twitter, the association highlighted Israel’s many contributions to global progress and its impressive roster of Nobel laureates. The IFA added, however, that “we have not yet found a cure for the stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy displayed by the Republic of Ireland’s team coach.”
The IFA emphasized that its focus is not on ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity, but on opposing the coach whose conduct embodies those traits.
Coach Hallgrímsson said he had spoken individually with players about the match and that “none of us feel comfortable playing in these games.”
The Irish Sport for Palestine Group released an open letter on Monday, which was signed by athletes including Olympian Ciara Mageean, former women’s national team player Louise Quinn, former rugby flyhalf Tony Ward, and boxers Tyrone McKenna and Eric Donovan.
“In this pivotal moment, the signatories urged the players to act with integrity. ‘Choosing not to play would be the most sporting thing you could do,’ the letter stated. ‘Through your leadership and courage, it would demonstrate how sport can unite, remind us of the shared values that bind us, and create an impact that extends far beyond the pitch.’”
The open letter follows earlier boycott efforts in May, when Irish footballers and public figures launched a campaign urging the national team to withdraw from Nations League matches against Israel.
Reuters contributed to this report.