Republic of Ireland press conference and training delayed ahead of controversial Israel clash
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Saturday morning media duties and training for the Republic of Ireland were both delayed ahead of their controversial Nations League match against Israel in Debrecen, Hungary.
Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson and a player had been scheduled to speak to journalists at 10.15am local time, but a UEFA official announced roughly 15 minutes prior that the session was moved to 12.30pm local time, following training.
It was subsequently confirmed that the squad would be 20 minutes late for their 11am practice, though shortly before 12pm local time they had still not arrived at the Nagyerdei Stadium.
Uefa officials could not explain the cause of the delay. The team had previously arranged a meeting on Friday to discuss matters, amid reports of a potential player statement prior to the press conference.
Nations failing to meet their obligations face potential warnings or fines from Uefa.
The Press Association has contacted Uefa and the Football Association of Ireland for comment.
Reports have suggested that Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu is considering refusing to play, with others contemplating joining him.
The disruption follows Thursday’s 1-0 defeat to Kosovo in Pristina to open the Republic’s campaign.
Speaking after that match, midfielder Jason Knight said: “Look, it’s difficult. I don’t think the game obviously should be going ahead but it is going ahead. We’ll have a deeper talk about it and what that means, we’ll get our thoughts as a group and go from there.
“I’m quite experienced. None of us have gone through this scenario before but I’d like to think I’m experienced, thick-skinned and I can get through most things and that is what I will try and do.
“I’ll try and focus on the football as much as I can. I’ll give my view and my thoughts on it (the Israel games) when I see fit, but I’ll be trying to focus on the football as much as possible.”
Last weekend, Ireland boss Hallgrimsson said his team would be will be “playing against genocide” when they faced Israel.
It brought a furious response from the Israel FA on Monday, who wrote on social media: “We’re not playing with ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity, we’re playing against the coach who embodies them”.
The Irish taoiseach Micheal Martin called the comments from the Israel FA “unacceptable” and said they “should be withdrawn” while speaking with reporters when attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
“We’re very clear and I think [UN secretary general] Antonio Guterres said it again this morning, he has never in his lifetime seen the level and scale of death and destruction as he witnessed in terms of the Israeli government’s war on Gaza in the aftermath of the horrific Hamas attack preceding the war,” Martin said.
“Our manager is saying the exact same thing. Israel can’t keep denying what the world knows and what the world understands.”
