Story perspectives

UEFA Rejects Ireland’s Israel Match Request, Citing Security

By Drooid · Sep 22, 2026, 2:01 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Heimir Hallgrimsson said the Irish team is playing against genocide in the upcoming Israel matches.
The Israel Football Association called Hallgrimsson “stupid, ignorant and hypocritical” in an X statement.
More than 160 Irish athletes, including Olympian Ciara Mageean and boxer Eric Donovan, signed a boycott letter.
UEFA rejected Ireland’s request to avoid Israel, citing security concerns, as protests erupted outside the Dublin hotel.

History

Historical Context

In 1980, after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, President Jimmy Carter led a U.S.-backed boycott that saw roughly 3,000 athletes from 66 nations skip the Moscow Games. The episode showed how large-scale sports boycotts can pressure governing bodies, a precedent cited now as Ireland’s football federation and over 160 Irish athletes, including Olympian Ciara Mageean, demand a boycott of Israel.

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Story summary

Heimir Hallgrimsson said the Irish team is playing against genocide in the upcoming Israel matches.
The Israel Football Association called Hallgrimsson “stupid, ignorant and hypocritical” in an X statement.
More than 160 Irish athletes, including Olympian Ciara Mageean and boxer Eric Donovan, signed a boycott letter.
UEFA rejected Ireland’s request to avoid Israel, citing security concerns, as protests erupted outside the Dublin hotel.

1 / 2