We will learn from mistakes made - Hallgrimsson

What the report says

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson said he and the Football Association of Ireland can learn from mistakes made during the build-up to Sunday’s match against Israel, as the fallout from that game continued to dominate attention before Ireland’s Nations League meeting with Austria in Dublin. The BBC reported that Hallgrimsson described the period as difficult for him as a leader and suggested the FAI, like him, would later look back on events and see where different choices might have been made.

The controversy has centered on Ireland’s decision to play Israel, protests linked to the Israel-Gaza war, and criticism of how the FAI handled the issue. BBC Sport said the association faced questions from an Irish parliamentary committee, while former Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr publicly argued for a boycott and commented on goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu’s position. Hallgrimsson did not directly respond to Kerr’s remarks, but said he avoids news and social media and believes strong opinions must still allow room to listen to others.

Hallgrimsson also addressed comments he made last week that drew a sharp response from the Israel Football Association. He said he had been pulled into a political issue and was not an expert in politics, adding that his focus now is on football and on learning from the experience as a coach and leader. The BBC’s report noted that Israel has denied allegations of genocide and says its military actions are lawful self-defence.