Heimir Hallgrimsson has called on UEFA to keep the Republic of Ireland and Israel apart in future fixtures following their 1-1 UEFA Nations League draw behind closed doors in Serbia.
The matches were overshadowed by politics amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) previously urged to boycott the internationals. Tensions escalated in Serbia after Ireland fitness coach Damien Doyle was allegedly spat on by an Israeli player at half-time.
Hallgrimsson confirmed the allegation but declined to comment further, telling RTE Sport: "No, they shouldn't [play each other again]. That's not ours to decide - that's UEFA who decides that. Obviously, there's a big support for Palestine in Ireland."
The Israeli Government accused the Irish team of "moral blindness" for bowing their heads during the national anthem, drawing comparisons to historical events. UEFA also confirmed two Israeli journalists were banned from post-match press conferences after a chaotic pre-match event involving allegations of racial abuse.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing