Ireland manager asks Uefa to separate teams in future draws
Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson urged UEFA to keep his side away from Israel after a tense Nations League draw in Serbia on Monday.
Manager requests separation for next games
Hallgrimsson told RTE that the two nations should not play each other again. He stated this decision belongs to UEFA rather than the national associations. The manager expressed a wish for no team to face similar difficulties in the coming weeks.
Incidents marred behind-closed-doors fixture
The match ended 1-1 after a penalty was cancelled out by an equaliser from Dor Peretz. Reports indicated that an Irish fitness coach was allegedly spat on during half-time in Backa Topola. Hallgrimsson declined to comment on the specific allegation but acknowledged it had been raised.
Controversy surrounds anthem protocol
Irish players wore black armbands and bowed their heads while the Israeli national anthem played. The Israeli government criticised this action during the international break in Serbia. Hallgrimsson did not address the anthem issue directly in his public statements.
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- The Guardian
- Sky Sports
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