{
  "id": 9114243,
  "title": "Israel vs Ireland: Boycott calls, protests and the Nations League dispute explained",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/israel-vs-ireland-boycott-calls-protests-and-the-nations-league",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-22T09:09:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/football/2026/09/22/israel-vs-ireland-boycott-calls-protests-and-the-nations-league-dispute-explained/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Ireland national football team is scheduled to play two UEFA Nations League matches against Israel amid escalating tensions between the two nations. Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson of the Irish team referred to the upcoming games as a \"fight against genocide,\" drawing strong reactions from the Israeli Football Association (FAI), who accused Hallgrimsson of \"stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy.\"\n\nBoth matches will be played in neutral venues - Debrecen, Hungary, and Backa Topola, Serbia - with no spectators allowed due to security concerns. The FAI initially requested to separate from Israel, but their plea was rejected by UEFA, leading to calls for a boycott of the games in Ireland. Over 160 Irish athletes and public figures have signed a letter urging the national team to boycott the matches, stating that playing against Israel would not be the \"most sporting thing\" to do.\n\nPublic opinion in Ireland is overwhelmingly pro-Palestine, with protests outside the Irish team's hotel calling for the team not to participate in the games. The Irish Sport for Palestine Group has published an open letter signed by numerous athletes and celebrities, including Olympian Ciara Mageean and former footballer Brian Kerr, urging the team to boycott the matches. Irish broadcaster RTE has reduced its coverage of the games and will not sell any advertising or sponsorship, while the FAI is also scaling down its presence at the matches, removing sponsor logos and replacing them with \"Respect\" messaging.",
  "summary": "The Ireland national team is set to fulfil a pair of Uefa Nations League games against Israel amid a war of words between the two camps and public outcry back home. The team's Icelandic head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson had said when announcing his squad that they were “playing against genocide,” while Israel's FA hit back on Monday, accusing him of “ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity\". The first…",
  "key_points": [
    "Ireland national team faces Israel in UEFA Nations League matches amid escalating tensions.",
    "Over 160 Irish athletes and public figures call for boycott of games, citing Palestinian solidarity."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Who will - and who won't - be talking to Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/who-will-and-who-wont-be-talking-to-donald-trump-at-the-un-general",
        "published": "2026-09-22T04:05:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Haaretz",
        "title": "Mamdani: Netanyahu a 'war criminal, architect of genocide,' ICC arrest warrant should be honored",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/mamdani-netanyahu-a-war-criminal-architect-of-genocide-icc-arrest",
        "published": "2026-09-22T07:32:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Mamdani calls for Netanyahu's arrest ahead of NYC visit for United Nations General Assembly",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/mamdani-calls-for-netanyahus-arrest-ahead-of-nyc-visit-for-united",
        "published": "2026-09-22T07:35:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CityNews",
        "title": "Trump to address UN General Assembly as Carney becomes voice of multilateralism",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/trump-to-address-un-general-assembly-as-carney-becomes-voice-of-9131256",
        "published": "2026-09-22T08:00:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Trump to address UN General Assembly as Carney becomes voice of multilateralism",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/trump-to-address-un-general-assembly-as-carney-becomes-voice-of",
        "published": "2026-09-22T08:00:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "After cordial meeting with Trump, Mamdani decries ‘architect of genocide’ Netanyahu",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/after-cordial-meeting-with-trump-mamdani-decries-architect-of",
        "published": "2026-09-22T08:01:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Israel vs Ireland: Boycott calls, protests and the Nations League dispute explained",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/israel-vs-ireland-boycott-calls-protests-and-the-nations-league-9118958",
        "published": "2026-09-22T09:09:06.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}