Irish PM Asks Israel Football Association to Withdraw Response to Ireland Coach

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin called on the Israel Football Association to retract its response to Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrímsson, saying its description of the coach as stupid, ignorant and hypocritical was unacceptable. Speaking in New York during the UN General Assembly, Martin backed the coach after Hallgrímsson used the term genocide when discussing Ireland's forthcoming matches with Israel. The Israeli association had rejected the coach's remarks and said Israel had contributed to humanity in many fields. The dispute comes before two UEFA Nations League fixtures that the Irish association still plans to play.