# Ireland cut short news conference ahead of Israel match

> Ireland’s press conference ended abruptly as tensions rose before Nations League clash with Israel.
- Title: Ireland cut short news conference ahead of Israel match
- Summary: Ireland’s press conference ended abruptly as tensions rose before Nations League clash with Israel. Ireland’s manager called for calm after players wore…
- Keywords: ireland, israel, nations league, gaza war, football, seattle, faire, sports, cut, short, news, conference
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/03/ireland-cut-short-news-conference-israel-nations-league-football
- Author: AFP
- Published: 2026-10-03T22:19:41+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ireland, israel, nations league, gaza war, football, seattle, faire, sports
## Press conference cut short
Ireland’s press officer Kieran Crowley ended the Republic’s media briefing with head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson in Backa Topola, Serbia.
## Tensions before Israel match
Ireland beat Israel 3-0 in Hungary after players wore armbands and bowed during the match amid Gaza war concerns.
## Israeli journalist questions
An Israeli journalist asked Hallgrímsson if Irish players supported a group that 'murdered' 170 Israeli passengers including 27 children.

> What do you say about the people that you support? Their ideology is based on murder, just this week, one of them tried to kill 170 Israeli passengers, including 27 innocent children and thousands of others
## FAI denies claims
An FAI official stated that Irish players calling Israeli players 'monkeys' was 'completely untrue'.

> that is completely untrue
## Hallgrímsson on future matches
Hallgrímsson urged Uefa to consider whether Ireland and Israel should meet again after the match.

> That’s maybe a question that is not for me to answer. But given that we now have the possibility of looking back and seeing all the things that happened, I think Uefa must take that into consideration that they can’t have this happening again just for players’ welfare
## Team coping strategy
Ireland’s team conducts pre-match prayer and huddle to 'cool heads' before games amid high pressure.

> We do a little prayer and a huddle with the players and all the staff, just to cool our heads before we go on to the pitch
## Key takeaway

Ireland’s manager called for calm after players wore armbands and bowed during Israel match amid Gaza war concerns.