'No cure for stupidity': Israel's Football Association blasts Irish coach's calls to boycott match

The coach's comments followed an open letter asking the Ireland national football team to boycott its upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel.

The Israel Football Association (IFA) responded on Monday to comments from Republic of Ireland National Team Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson about the team's boycott of an upcoming Israel-Ireland game.

"We have contributed to the world and humanity in countless fields, earning an impressive number of Nobel Prizes along the way," the association wrote in an X/Twitter post. "Unfortunately, we have not yet found a cure for stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy displayed by @IrelandFootball team coach."

"We’re not playing with ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity," the IFA added. "We’re playing against the coach who embodies them."

Hallgrimsson said last week he had spoken individually to players about facing Israel and that "none of us feel comfortable playing in these games."

His comments followed the signing of an open letter by more than 160 Irish sportspeople asking the Ireland national football team to boycott its upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel, currently scheduled for September 27.

'Not playing the game would be the most sporting thing you could do'

The Irish Sport for Palestine Group announced the open letter on Monday, saying the signatories included Olympian Ciara Mageean, former footballer Louise Quinn, former rugby flyhalf Tony Ward and boxers Tyrone McKenna and Eric Donovan.

"This is a significant moment, and with this moment you have an opportunity to do the right thing," the letter said. "Not playing the game would be the most sporting thing you could do. Through your leadership and courage, it would show the power of sport to unite, remind us of the shared values that connect us all, and have an impact far beyond the game."

The letter was signed following Irish boycott efforts in May, when Irish footballers joined celebrities in a campaign urging Ireland to boycott the Nations League matches against Israel.