DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland fans throwing tennis balls onto the pitch in a pro-Palestinian protest “kills the game,” national team coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said.Irish activists who want the country’s soccer federation to boycott Nations League games against Israel interrupted Ireland’s match against Qatar on Thursday by hurling tennis balls onto the field in the first half at Aviva Stadium.Hallgrimsson said “everybody has a right to protest” but that there’s a downside, too.“It just kills the game,” he said. “If they want to destroy the game for us, then so be it. Obviously, it’s not fun to see, especially for us who are trying to think about the football side.”The Icelandic coach reiterated that he opposes a boycott, arguing that from a sporting perspective it would only hurt Ireland and elevate Israel.Ireland is scheduled to face Israel in an away game on Sept. 27 and at home on Oct. 4. Ireland’s soccer federation, the FAI, has said it would face “serious consequences” from governing body UEFA if it refused to play the games.
Banners at Thursday’s match read “stop the game” and the tennis balls featured the Palestinian flag — all in protest of Israel’s military action in Gaza. The Israel-Hamas war was sparked by the militant group’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
