"Not smart of me": Ireland's coach backtracks on Israel-Palestine remarks

Ireland's national football team coach, Heimir Hallgrimsson, acknowledged on Wednesday that the timing of his comments on the Gaza war was "not smart," just before several Nations League fixtures, including two against Israel.

Last week, the Icelandic coach sparked significant controversy by stating, "We don't play with genocide, we play against genocide. We play against Israel, we don't play with Israel." This drew a sharp response from the Israeli Football Association, which accused Hallgrimsson of "stupidity, ignorance, and hypocrisy." Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, however, publicly supported the coach on Tuesday.

Ireland is scheduled to play Israel on neutral ground in Debrecen, Hungary, on Sunday, and again seven days later in Backa Topola, Serbia. Security concerns prompted the venue change. The team's Nations League campaign begins Thursday with an away game against Kosovo.

"The headlines that were generated from what I said have taken attention away from what might be the most important thing: we have an important game against Kosovo," Hallgrimsson stated at a pre-match press conference on Wednesday. He added that "it was not smart of me to take the attention away like that."

Coach criticizes media coverage

The coach's previous remarks had caused considerable upset. He declared, "We don't play with genocide, we play against genocide. We play against Israel, we don't play with Israel." The Israeli Football Association responded forcefully, calling Hallgrimsson's comments "stupid, ignorant, and hypocritical." Despite this, the Irish Prime Minister, Micheal Martin, voiced his support for the coach on Tuesday.

Ireland's matches against Israel will be held in Debrecen, Hungary, on neutral ground for security reasons, on Sunday. A second encounter is scheduled for seven days later in Backa Topola, Serbia. The Irish team's Nations League journey commences Thursday with an away match against Kosovo.

"The headlines that were generated from what I said have taken attention away from what might be the most important thing: we have an important game against Kosovo," Hallgrimsson explained during Wednesday's press conference. He conceded, "it was not smart of me to take the attention away like that."