Arabic version: صحفيون إسرائيليون يعطلون مؤتمراً صحفياً لمنتخب أيرلندا

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli journalists interrupted a Republic of Ireland news conference before the UEFA Nations League second leg against Israel, prompting Football Association of Ireland communications manager Kieran Crowley to end the event. Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson later described the exchange as a “verbal attack”.

During Saturday’s media conference at the TSC Arena in Baka Topola, Serbia, an Israeli journalist asked Hallgrimsson about an incident on a Flydubai flight to Israel earlier in the week. The journalist asked, “What do you say about the people that you support? Their ideology is based on murder,” in remarks purportedly referring to Ireland’s stance on Palestine.

Crowley intervened before Hallgrimsson answered, asking the journalist to keep questions linked to football. “We respected your questions at the last press conference, but we are doing football questions today,” he said. When the journalist continued, Crowley stopped the question again.

A second Israeli journalist then accused the Irish team of calling Israel’s players “monkeys” during the first leg on September 27. Crowley rejected the allegation and ended the news conference, saying: “That’s a lie. You’ve just broadcast a lie.” Ireland won the first match 3-0. The FAI is continuing to investigate allegations that Irish players Adam Idah and James Abankwah were racially abused by Israeli fans.

The second leg is scheduled for Sunday at the TSC Arena. Hallgrimsson said the match carried “a lot of emotions” and that the team remained focused on winning. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu had publicly withdrawn before the first leg, saying he felt “it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel”.