Hallgrimsson urges Uefa to keep Ireland and Israel apart in future

Heimir Hallgrimsson has called on UEFA to keep Ireland and Israel apart in future. The Ireland boss was speaking following his side's 1-1 UEFA Nations League draw with Israel behind closed doors in Serbia. The games between the two nations this international break were overshadowed by politics, with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) urged to boycott the internationals amid ongoing conflict in the Israel-Gaza War.

This continued in Serbia, as Ireland fitness coach Damien Doyle was allegedly spat on by an Israeli player at half-time, according to reports in the stadium. Irish media reported that the incident took place as the teams went down the tunnel. Ireland boss Hallgrimsson confirmed there was an allegation, but he admitted he didn't see it and declined to comment further on it.

However, when asked if the two countries should be playing each other again, he told RTE Sport: "No, they shouldn't. That's not ours to decide - that's UEFA who decides that. Obviously, there's a big support for Palestine in Ireland.

There's not many countries that support Palestine as much as Ireland does. "I wouldn't wish any national team to go through what we've gone through in these two weeks, so maybe UEFA just needs to step in and do something." Sky Sports News has contacted UEFA for comment. The Israeli Government have accused the Ireland football team of "moral blindness" for bowing their heads during their national anthem.

For the second time in a week, the Irish players, coaching team and FAI all bowed their heads while the Israeli national anthem was played pre-match. The official Israeli Government X account posted: "While some use the football field as their political theatre, for us this is personal. "1939: Irish players raised their arms in salute to Nazi Germany.

"2026: Irish players bowed their heads during Israel's anthem. The same moral blindness. "Today, Israel's players wear black armbands to remember those brutally massacred by Hamas on October 7 - including former professional footballer Lior Asulin.