Ireland news conference cut short for Flydubai, racism questions

Ireland’s pre-match news conference ahead of Sunday’s UEFA Nations League clash with Israel was abruptly cut short Saturday following tense exchanges about the Flydubai flight incident and allegations of racism.

Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson was taking questions from reporters in Serbia when an Israeli journalist asked him about this week’s incident involving a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

“What do you say about the people that you support? Their ideology is based on murder,” the journalist asked before referring to the incident involving the flight.

The Football Association of Ireland’s communications manager Kieran Crowley intervened, saying: “We are not doing any questions like this today. We are doing football questions.”

The exchange referred to an incident aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 on Wednesday, when the co-pilot attacked the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft before others on board intervened.

The plane, which was carrying 182 people, made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The news conference continued briefly before another Israeli journalist alleged that Irish players had racially abused Israeli players during the teams’ previous Nations League meeting.

“Your players call our players monkeys during the match,” the journalist said before being interrupted by Crowley, who responded: “That’s completely untrue.”

The journalist refused to give up the microphone, and Crowley then brought the news conference to an end.

Racism allegations from previous match

The FAI is investigating claims that Ireland forward Adam Idah was racially abused by Israeli supporters during Ireland’s 3-0 win against Israel last Sunday in Hungary.

The FAI is reviewing video footage and audio from pitchside microphones to determine whether there is evidence of racist chanting during the match.

Footage on social media appeared to capture monkey noises from some Israeli supporters when Idah was on the ball.

UEFA has not opened an investigation into the allegations after the FAI was told that the correct protocols had not been followed.

Last Sunday’s match came amid demands in Ireland for a boycott of Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip, with a significant majority of Irish players voting in favor of fulfilling the fixture.

The teams did not shake hands before kickoff, while Ireland’s players bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem and wore black armbands “in recognition of all lives lost in the conflict.”

Ireland and Israel will meet again Sunday in Backa Topola, Serbia, where Ireland will be the designated home team. The match will be played without fans.