The Republic of Ireland’s news conference before their second match against Israel ended abruptly as head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson fielded questions from Israeli journalists.
One reporter tried to ask Hallgrimsson for his thoughts about the incident on Wednesday when a co-pilot attacked a pilot on a flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv before passengers overpowered the attacker and successfully took control of the plane.
The Republic of Ireland manager was also asked by another journalist, who refused to give up the microphone, about alleged racism by Irish players during last Sunday’s 3-0 win over Israel in Hungary.
The news conference was brought to a close at that point by Football Association of Ireland (FAI) head of communications Kieran Crowley, who said those allegations were “completely untrue” as the mood soured.
The allegations of racism by Irish players follow on from the FAI announcing it is investigating reports of racist abuse directed towards Republic of Ireland striker Adam Idah by Israel fans during the first match in Debrecen, which Hallgrimsson’s team won 3-0.
Before the news conference was cut short, Hallgrimsson insisted he would not be drawn on either matter and would not “get involved in that as others will process that”.
“It is a game with a lot of emotions attached,” Hallgrimsson said.
“I haven’t read anything and it’s not something I want to get involved with. It goes to a process, both in our department and with Uefa.
“Something was reported by both teams, so I just hope we can focus on football and football will be the winner after this.
“I have not gone into details looking at this as I have enough to think about.”
‘Togetherness is stronger than individuals’ – Hallgrimsson
This has been a challenging international window for the Republic of Ireland, with the Israel fixtures dominating discourse in Irish football.
Since the teams were drawn together in February, a ‘Stop The Game’ campaign was launched by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine, which called for a boycott of the fixtures in protest against the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.
Before last week’s ‘home’ game for Israel in Hungary, Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu withdrew from the fixtures, saying “it would be wrong to participate”, while a vote by players to play the games passed by a “significant majority”, according to FAI chief executive David Courell.
The players wore black armbands during the game “in recognition of all lives lost in the [Gaza] conflict”.
The Republic of Ireland then played Austria in Dublin on Thursday, when protests resulted in tennis balls being thrown on to the pitch and a protester briefly interrupting the game when he ran on to the turf, waving a Palestine flag.
Hallgrimsson said under the circumstances, it will be a “a big win for this group and the association if we go through undamaged”.
They have four points from two games so far, having beaten Israel and drawn 2-2 with Austria.
“The most pleasing thing for me is to see the togetherness and how they stand up for each other,” he said.
“Whatever they have done, they have done it with respect to the situation, to each other and after this, this bond of brothers will be stronger than ever. All the obstacles this group will face in the future will be lesser than it is.
“When we look back, this camp will be a moment we grew the most and stepped up as leaders, supported each other and stuck together. The power of togetherness is stronger than individuals.”
The Republic of Ireland boss revealed the team have taken to a group prayer before leaving the dressing room before recent games “just to cool our heads before we go on to the pitch”. He said that has been led by midfielder Conor Coventry whom he joked is now known within the squad as “Brother Coventry”.
The Icelander said Dara O’Shea – the team’s captain in place of the injured Nathan Collins – was not with the squad, as his wife was due to give birth. He may arrive back in Backa Topola prior to Sunday’s 19:45 BST kick-off.
