Sport
Ireland Coach Hallgrimsson Ahead of Match Against Israel: 'We Are Playing Against Genocide'
Ahead of the match with Israel in the Nations League, Hallgrimsson made inflammatory statements, compared Israel to Russia and claimed he doesn't understand why only one was suspended
· Source: Walla. Photo as published in the article
Iceland's national team coach Heimir Hallgrimsson intensified his tone against Israel a week before the match between the national teams in the Nations League, again compared Israel to Russia and said We are playing against genocide, but admitted that I apparently said too much.
A week before the match against Israel's national team in the Nations League, Iceland's national team coach, Heimir Hallgrimsson, intensified his tone against Israel. According to reports, at a press conference ahead of the international window, he said: We are not playing with genocide, we are playing against genocide. We are playing against Israel, we are not playing with Israel.
Hallgrimsson previously argued that in his view Israel should be suspended like Russia, and this time repeated the claim. According to him, I still haven't received any explanation why one is suspended and the other is not.
According to reports, the Irish Football Association decided to participate in both matches but took unusual steps: the first match will be held on September 27 in Debrecen, Hungary, and Ireland's home match on October 4 has been moved from Dublin to Backa Topola, Serbia and will be held without an audience. According to Irish reports, RTÉ will not hold regular studio and commentary broadcasts around the matches and will use the international feed.
The coach admitted he has no experience in such situations: There is no seminar in the UEFA Pro license that prepares you for something like this. He also said: I apparently said too much, but nothing prepares you for such a thing.
