The Republic of Ireland’s press conference on Saturday was abruptly ended after head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson was asked by Israeli media about the Flydubai attack and accusations of racism.
Hallgrimsson addressed the media in Serbia on Saturday ahead of the Republic of Ireland’s Nations League game against Israel on Sunday night.
One journalist took the microphone and asked Hallgrimsson: ‘What do you say about the people you support, the ideology based on murder?’
She then referenced the attack on board Flydubai earlier this week which saw a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv disrupted when the co-pilot used an axe to attack the captain in an attempt to hijack the plane.
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The Football Association of Ireland’s (FAI) head of communications, Kieran Crowley, urged the reporter to stick to football-based questions and she then asked whether Finn Azaz, the midfielder who has Israeli family connections, will play for Ireland on Sunday.
After Hallgrimsson refused to divulge his team selection, the Ireland head coach was then asked by another Israeli reporter about accusations of racism during his side’s 3-0 win over Israel on September 27.
Ireland’s players wore black armbands and lined up with heads down during the Israel national anthem prior to their game last Sunday (Getty)
Israeli media have accused an unnamed Irish player of calling an opponent a ‘monkey’ – a claim which is strenuously denied by the FAI.
‘That is completely untrue, that is completely untrue,’ Crowley told the reporter before adding: ‘We are finishing the press conference there. You’ve just broadcast a lie.’
Earlier this week, the FAI has launched its own investigation into whether Ireland forward Adam Idah was racially abused by Israel supporters during their 3-0 victory in Hungary last week.
However, UEFA is not opening an investigation after the FAI were told that no clear allegation of racism was reported during the game and protocols were not followed when reporting the incident.
During their game last Sunday, which was played at a neutral venue, the players did not shake hands before kick-off and Ireland’s players bowed their heads when Israel’s anthem was played.
Ireland’s players also wore black armbands, which FAI chief executive David Courell said was ‘in recognition of all lives lost in the conflict’.
