Irish Prime Minister Supports National Team Coach Amid Israeli Criticism

Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin on Tuesday backed his national football team’s manager after the Israeli Football Association accused him of “stupidity, ignorance, and hypocrisy” over comments he made regarding the war in Gaza.

Speaking to journalists in New York, where he is attending the United Nations General Assembly, Martin said, “I believe those remarks are unacceptable. They must be withdrawn.”

He added, “Israel cannot continue to deny what the world knows and what the world understands.”

Halldorsson sparked controversy before two UEFA Nations League matches against Israel, stating, “We do not play with genocide; we play against genocide. We play against Israel, and we do not play with Israel.”

The dispute comes amid growing debate in Ireland over the two Nations League fixtures scheduled for September 27 and October 4.

More than 160 Irish athletes signed an open letter calling on the national team to boycott the matches, while protesters gathered outside the team’s hotel in Dublin on Monday.

Further protests are expected across the country ahead of the games.

Last November, the Football Association of Ireland signed a memorandum requesting that UEFA suspend Israel’s participation in international competitions, but it received no support from European football officials.

The match officially designated as being played in Ireland, scheduled for October 4, has been moved from Dublin to Bačka Topola in Serbia due to security concerns.

The September 27 match, officially designated as an away game for Ireland, will also be played on neutral ground in Debrecen, Hungary.

The Israeli military launched a wide-scale offensive in October 2023 that displaced most of the Gaza Strip’s population at least once and resulted in the deaths of 73,919 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas and whose figures are generally considered reliable.

Ireland has long been a prominent supporter of the Palestinian cause, with sympathy for Palestinians often linked to the country’s own history under British rule.

Dublin officially recognized the State of Palestine in 2024, alongside Spain and Norway, and has repeatedly criticized Israel’s conduct during the war in Gaza.