Israeli journalists questioned coach Hallgrimsson about the Flydubai attack and alleged racist abuse by Irish players.
Published on October 3, 2026
Members of an Israeli media contingent heckled Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson’s press conference ahead of the UEFA Nations League soccer match, prompting its abrupt end amid growing political tensions and protests against the match.
During Saturday’s media event, an Israeli journalist asked Hallgrimsson for his views on an incident that occurred aboard a Flydubai flight to Israel earlier this week.
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According to the UAE Attorney General, Flydubai’s co-pilot “attempted to commit a terrorist act”, using an ax against the pilot to take control of the plane.
The plane carrying 174 passengers was en route from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv in Israel on Wednesday when the co-pilot injured Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who opened the cockpit door to seek help.
The plane briefly plunged about 17,000 feet (5,180 meters) before being brought back under control.
The attacker has not been officially identified, but media reports citing anonymous sources said he was an Omani national, Hamam al-Hammami.
“What do you say about the people you support? Their ideology is based on murder,” the journalist asked, allegedly referring to Ireland’s position on Palestine and attempting to link it to the plane incident.
Before the Irish team coach could respond, Football Association of Ireland communications manager Kieran Crowley intervened and asked the reporter to refrain from asking questions unrelated to the match.
The reporter persisted, continuing her question before Crowley stopped her again.
“We respected your questions at the last press conference, but we are addressing football issues today,” he said, referring to pointed questions from Israeli journalists about calls to boycott the first leg of the European match.
Icelandic coach Hallgrimsson later described the incident as a “verbal attack”.
“You just spread a lie.”
The first leg of the match was played on 27 September and the FAI faced strong calls for a boycott from the Irish public and former players. The match went ahead and Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in a tense atmosphere on the pitch.
After the match, Israeli fans were accused of shouting racist chants at Irish player Adam Idah and were filmed raising military slogans, but escaped disciplinary action from competition organizers.
However, another Israeli journalist turned the incident around during Saturday’s press conference and accused the Irish team of calling the Israeli players “monkeys” during the match.
The FAI’s Crowley was quick to rule out the accusation and end the media event.
“That’s a lie. You just spread a lie,” Crowley said before getting up to walk away.
According to Irish media, the FAI continues to investigate allegations that Irish players Adam Idah and James Abankwah were subjected to racist abuse by Israeli fans.
An Israeli fan also shouted chants about his country’s army from the stands as he attempted to erase the team’s drubbing on the soccer field.
The day before the first leg, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu publicly withdrew, saying he felt “it would be a mistake to participate in the upcoming matches against Israel.”
The return match will be played on Sunday at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola in Serbia.
Irishman Hallgrimsson called it “a game with a lot of emotion attached to it.”
He said the team was also focused on winning the second leg.
“There has been a lot of emotion from the Irish people about it and it obviously affects the players as well. We want to do good, but it will always be a challenge when the environment is this noisy.”
Gn sports
