Hallgrimsson says Israel 'tried to intimidate' Ireland during Sunday's Nations League draw in Serbia
Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said he felt Israel were "trying to intimidate" his players during Sunday's 1-1 Uefa Nations League draw at the TSC Arena in Serbia, a match played behind closed doors that featured allegations of spitting at half-time.
The teams clashed at half-time after the Irish Times reported Republic of Ireland head of athletic performance Damien Doyle alleged he had been spat at by an Israel player, and television pictures captured a voice saying "he spat on me" as players walked down the tunnel. When asked about the episode on Off The Ball, Hallgrimsson said: "I don't want to get involved in that, but it's been like this these two games. It's tense, it's a lot of emotions." He added: "[It] was an accusation of spitting on someone but I didn't see it. No, we don't want to talk about this. This will be reviewed, probably like everything else that's happened between the two teams."
Hallgrimsson told reporters he believed the Irish side faced intimidation from kick-off and praised his squad for remaining composed under pressure. "I felt like they were trying to intimidate us from kick-off but I give a lot of credit to the players to stay calm," he said. "It could have been a game of yellow and red cards but we were composed, the players were composed, they did well in controlling emotions."
Israel head coach Ran Ben-Shimon said he "didn't see "anything"" regarding the alleged spitting and said: "[At] half-time I was in the dressing room, my room, with my staff. When I get the chance to check I will get back to you." Ben-Shimon also rejected suggestions his team targeted Jayson Molumby, saying "it was nothing personal against" the West Brom midfielder and adding: "Come on, come on. We don't do it. We just don't do it, we are not men like this." He continued: "It's very difficult to believe us but I will never say to a player to play aggressive against him (an opposing player). Sometimes I don't like this but I say to my players sometimes this is the best way to play the clearest football as you can, but be aggressive. I never say to them to injure someone. This is not our way, we are human beings."
Tensions between the sides escalated on Saturday when the Republic of Ireland's pre-match news conference was halted after Hallgrimsson fielded what he later described as a "verbal attack" from Israeli reporters; Football Association of Ireland communications manager Kieran Crowley ended the session and called the allegations "completely untrue." The interruption followed questions about alleged racism by Irish players during Ireland's previous match in Hungary, a game the Republic of Ireland won 3-0.
The FAI is investigating whether forward Adam Idah was racially abused by Israel fans during the first match in Debrecen, and midfielder Jayson Molumby spoke to match officials during play, asking them to listen for what he believed to be abusive chanting from some Israel supporters. The fixtures, both staged at neutral venues after the February Group B3 draw, have been contentious since the teams were paired together.
Protests organised by the "Stop The Game" campaign, run by Irish Sport for Palestine, took place before and during Ireland's Thursday game against Austria in Dublin, and goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu made himself unavailable for the Israel fixtures, saying it would be "wrong" for him to participate; nevertheless, the FAI decided to fulfil both matches. On both occasions against Israel the teams did not take part in pre-match formalities and the Irish players bowed their heads during Israel's national anthem.
Hallgrimsson said the incidents and wider issues between the teams "will be reviewed, probably like everything else that's happened between the two teams," and Ben-Shimon stated he would check the matter and "get back to you" when he had the opportunity to do so.
