(../../../../favicon_aje.ico) Israeli reporter’s ‘verbal attack’ ends Ireland football news conference | Football | Al Jazeera    (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/10/3/israeli-reporters-verbal-attack-ends-ireland-football-news-conference)                                                (https://www.aljazeera.com/xml/rss/all.xml)  (https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/sports/2026/10/3/israeli-reporters-verbal-attack-ends-ireland-football-news-conference)  (https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/GettyImages-2297780943-1791045945.jpg?resize=1200%2C675)  (../../../../wp-content/uploads/2026/10/GettyImages-2297780943-1791045945.jpg@resize=770,513&quality=80)     (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (../../../../static/css/vendor~main~d08ff9cb.24bf1742.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~748942c6.6c6e15fe.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~b07b7304.e3bc53a0.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~6e6dca10.74fd263a.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~5db14389.a7dc5dd5.r2.chunk.css) (https://www.aljazeera.com/static/media/Roboto-Bold.52bb58c8.woff2) (https://www.aljazeera.com/static/media/Roboto-Regular.c5bf51b6.woff2)  (../../../../static/css/vendor~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-blo~5f903362.2e08e417.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/component~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-~41c72a2c.3f309873.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/component~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-~06be7c11.0625e98d.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/common~493df0b3.ec3ab9b5.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/pages/article-page~493df0b3.accd71c7.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/common~493df0b3.ec3ab9b5.r2.chunk.css)   Skip links (israeli-reporters-verbal-attack-ends-ireland-football-news-conference@traffic_source=rss.html#main-content-area) Skip to Content  (https://www.aljazeera.com/)          (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/live) play    Live    Sign up  Show navigation menu     Navigation menu (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/) News    Show more news sections  (https://www.aljazeera.com/africa/) Africa   (https://www.aljazeera.com/asia/) Asia   (https://www.aljazeera.com/us-canada/) US & Canada   (https://www.aljazeera.com/latin-america/) Latin America   (https://www.aljazeera.com/europe/) Europe   (https://www.aljazeera.com/asia-pacific/) Asia Pacific      (https://www.aljazeera.com/middle-east/) Middle East   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/explainer/) Explained   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports) Sport   (https://www.aljazeera.com/opinion/) Opinion   (https://www.aljazeera.com/videos/) Video   More   Show more sections  (https://www.aljazeera.com/aljazeera-originals) Originals   (https://www.aljazeera.com/features/) Features   (https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/) Economy   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/human-rights/) Human Rights   (https://www.aljazeera.com/climate-crisis) Climate Crisis   (https://www.aljazeera.com/investigations/) Investigations   (https://www.aljazeera.com/interactives/) Interactives   (https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/) In Pictures   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/science-and-technology/) Science & Technology   (https://www.aljazeera.com/audio/podcasts) Podcasts   (https://www.aljazeera.com/travel) Travel   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sponsored/) Sponsored Content        (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/live) play    Live    Click here to search search     Sign up        Navigation menu caret-left    (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/israel-palestine-conflict/) Israel-Palestine conflict    (https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/6/9/shackled-bleeding-raped-palestinians-describe-abuse-in-israels-prisons) Shackled, bleeding, raped: Abuse in Israeli prisons   (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/1/this-is-an-apartheid-regime-critics-decry-israels-new-death-penalty-law) ‘This is an apartheid regime’   (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/9/did-netanyahu-really-defy-trump-in-bombing-iran) Does Trump have real leverage over Netanyahu?   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Listen   Listen (4 mins)       Save       Share ‘Verbal attack’: Israeli reporters interrupt Ireland news conference on social media share-nodes    Share (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fos8jyf) facebook      (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%E2%80%98Verbal%20attack%E2%80%99%3A%20Israeli%20reporters%20interrupt%20Ireland%20news%20conference&source=sharethiscom&related=sharethis&via=AJEnglish&url=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fos8jyf) x    (whatsapp://send?text=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fos8jyf) whatsapp-stroke    (https://aje.news/os8jyf)  copylink          google       Add Al Jazeera on Google  info      (Communications manager Kieran Crowley signals an end the press conference alongside head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson during a Republic of Ireland media conference at the TSC Arena in Baka Topola, Serbia)   Republic of Ireland communications manager Kieran Crowley signals an end the media conference alongside head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson at the TSC Arena in Baka Topola, Serbia on Saturday [Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images]   (https://www.aljazeera.com/author/hafsa_adil_2014815112749476273)     By  (https://www.aljazeera.com/author/hafsa_adil_2014815112749476273) Hafsa Adil    Published On 3 Oct 2026 3 Oct 2026    Members of an Israeli media contingent heckled Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson’s news conference prior to the UEFA Nations League football match, causing it to end abruptly amid growing political tensions and protests against the fixture. During the media event on Saturday, an Israeli journalist asked Hallgrimsson about his views on an incident onboard (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/3/flydubai-co-pilot-stabbed-pilot-with-crash-axe-in-terrorist-attack-uae) a Flydubai flight to Israel earlier this week. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4 (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/10/3/what-is-fc-barcelonas-negreira-case-and-what-are-the-charges) FC Barcelona accused of corruption in Negreira case: All you need to know  list 2 of 4 (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/10/3/man-city-whistleblower-pinto-to-lose-witness-protection-amid-death-threats) Man City whistleblower Pinto says he ‘received death threats’ over leaks  list 3 of 4 (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/10/3/turkish-court-detains-football-refereeing-chief-pending-corruption-trial) Turkish court detains football refereeing chief pending corruption trial  list 4 of 4 (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/10/2/manchester-city-appeal-premier-league-financial-ruling-england-fa) Manchester City appeal Premier League financial breach ruling   end of list  According to the prosecutor general of the United Arab Emirates, the Flydubai co-pilot “attempted to carry out a terrorist act”, using an axe against the pilot to take over the aircraft’s controls. The plane carrying 174 passengers was on its way from the Dubai in the UAE to Tel Aviv in Israel on Wednesday when the copilot wounded Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who opened the cockpit door to seek help. The aircraft briefly plunged about 17,000 feet (5,180 metres) before it was brought back under control. The attacker was not officially identified, but media reports quoting unnamed sources said he was an Omani national, Hamam al-Hammami. “What do you say about the people that you support? Their ideology is based on murder,” the journalist asked, purportedly hinting at Ireland’s stance on Palestine and attempting to link it to the aviation incident. Before the Irish team’s coach could answer, the Football Association of Ireland’s communications manager Kieran Crowley stepped in and asked the journalist to refrain from asking questions not linked to the match. The journalist persisted, carrying on with her question before Crowley stopped her again. Advertisement    “We respected your questions at the last press conference, but we are doing football questions today,” he said, referring to Israeli journalists’ pointed questions about the calls to boycott the first leg of the European match. Icelandic coach Hallgrimsson later termed the incident a “verbal attack”.      ‘You’ve just broadcast a lie’ The first leg of the fixture was played on September 27 and the FAI faced strong calls for a boycott from (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/9/24/ireland-vs-israel-football-match-nations-league-controversy-explained) the Irish public and former players . The match went ahead and Ireland beat Israel 3-0 amid (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/10/1/protesters-halt-game-as-calls-grow-on-ireland-to-boycott-second-israel-game) a tense atmosphere on the pitch . Following the match, Israeli supporters were accused of (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/9/28/israeli-fans-monkey-chants-ireland-adam-idah-uefa-nations-league) directing racist chants towards Ireland player Adam Idah and were filmed raising military slogans, but evaded disciplinary action from the competition’s organisers. However, another Israeli journalist turned the incident on its head during Saturday’s news conference and accused the Irish team of calling Israel’s players “monkeys” during the match. FAI’s Crowley was quick to shut out the accusation and ended the media event. “That’s a lie. You’ve just broadcast a lie,” Crowley said before getting up to walk away. According to Irish media reports, the FAI is continuing to investigate allegations that Irish players Adam Idah and James Abankwah were racially abused by Israeli fans. An Israeli supporter also led chants about his country’s military from the stands as he attempted to brush aside the team’s drubbing on the football pitch. The day before the first leg, goalkeeper (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/9/27/who-is-gavin-bazunu-and-why-is-he-boycotting-the-ireland-vs-israel-match) Gavin Bazunu publicly withdrew , saying he felt “it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel”. The second leg will be played at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola in Serbia on Sunday. Ireland’s Hallgrimsson termed it “a game with a lot of emotions attached to it”. He said the team was focused on winning the second leg as well. “There’s been a lot of emotions from the people in Ireland about this and obviously that affects the players as well. We want to do good, but it’s always going to be a challenge when the environment is as noisy as it is.”                 aj-logo             aj-logo             aj-logo       Advertisement          About About   Show more  (https://www.aljazeera.com/about-us) About Us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/code-of-ethics/) Code of Ethics   (https://www.aljazeera.com/terms-and-conditions/) Terms and Conditions   (https://www.aljazeera.com/eu-eea-regulatory/) EU/EEA Regulatory Notice   (https://privacy.aljazeera.net/) Privacy Policy   (https://privacy.aljazeera.net/cookie/) Cookie Policy   (https://www.aljazeera.com/) Cookie Preferences    (https://trust.aljazeera.net/accessibility/) Accessibility Statement   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sitemap) Sitemap   (https://careers.aljazeera.net/) Work for us      Connect Connect   Show more  (https://network.aljazeera.net/en/contact?tid=6) Contact Us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/user-accounts-help) User Accounts Help   (https://commercial.aljazeera.net/) Advertise with us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/stay-connected) Stay Connected   (https://www.aljazeera.com/newsletters) Newsletters   (https://sat.aljazeera.net/en) Channel Finder   (https://www.aljazeera.com/schedule/) TV Schedule   (https://www.aljazeera.com/podcasts/) Podcasts   (https://webapps.aljazeera.net/aje/tips/) Submit a Tip   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sponsored) Paid Partner Content      Our Channels Our Channels   Show more  (http://aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Arabic   (https://www.aljazeera.com/) Al Jazeera English   (https://www.ajiunit.com/) Al Jazeera Investigative Unit   (https://www.aljazeeramubasher.net/) Al Jazeera Mubasher   (http://doc.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Documentary   (http://balkans.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Balkans   (http://ajplus.net/) AJ+      Our Network Our Network   Show more  (http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/) Al Jazeera Centre for Studies   (http://training.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Media Institute   (http://learning.aljazeera.net/) Learn Arabic   (http://liberties.aljazeera.com/en) Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights   (http://forum.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Forum   (https://hotels.aljazeera.net/en) Al Jazeera Hotel Partners        Follow Al Jazeera English: (https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera) facebook       (https://twitter.com/ajenglish) twitter     (https://www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish) youtube     (https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/?hl=en) instagram-colored-outline                          (https://www.aljazeera.com/xml/rss/all.xml) rss     (https://bsky.app/profile/aljazeera.com) bluesky     (https://www.tiktok.com/@aljazeeraenglish) tiktok-colored-outline                  (Al Jazeera Media Network logo)   © 2026 Al Jazeera Media Network