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.
asserted
it → heckle → fixture
During the media event on Saturday, an Israeli journalist asked Hallgrimsson about his views on an incident onboard a Flydubai flight to Israel earlier this week.
asserted
journalist → ask → Israel
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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.
uncertain
who → accuse → help
The aircraft briefly plunged about 17,000 feet (5,180 metres) before it was brought back under control.
asserted
it → plunge → control
The attacker was not officially identified, but media reports quoting unnamed sources said he was an Omani national, Hamam al-Hammami.
asserted
he → identify → sources
“What do you say about the people that you support?
asserted
you → say → that
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.
asserted
journalist → base → 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.
uncertain
manager → answer → match
The journalist persisted, carrying on with her question before Crowley stopped her again.
asserted
Crowley → persist → her
“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.
asserted
he → respect → match
Icelandic coach Hallgrimsson later termed the incident a “verbal attack”.
asserted
Hallgrimsson → term → incident
‘You’ve just broadcast a lie’
asserted
You → broadcast → lie
The first leg of the fixture was played on September 27 and the FAI faced strong calls for a boycott from the Irish public and former players.
asserted
FAI → play → public
The match went ahead and Ireland beat Israel 3-0 amid a tense atmosphere on the pitch.
asserted
Ireland → go → pitch
Following the match, Israeli supporters were accused of directing racist chants towards Ireland player Adam Idah and were filmed raising military slogans, but evaded disciplinary action from the competition’s organisers.
asserted
supporters → follow → 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.
asserted
journalist → turn → match
FAI’s Crowley was quick to shut out the accusation and ended the media event.
“That’s a lie.
asserted
That → shut → event
You’ve just broadcast a lie,” Crowley said before getting up to walk away.
asserted
Crowley → broadcast → lie
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.
uncertain
players → accord → 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.
asserted
he → lead → pitch
The day before the first leg, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu publicly withdrew, saying he felt “it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel”.
asserted
it → withdraw → Israel
The second leg will be played at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola in Serbia on Sunday.
asserted
leg → play → Sunday
Ireland’s Hallgrimsson termed it “a game with a lot of emotions attached to it”.
asserted
Hallgrimsson → term → 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.
asserted
that → say → players
We want to do good, but it’s always going to be a challenge when the environment is as noisy as it is.”
asserted
it → want → good
The Aporia
