‘We have contributed to the world and humanity in countless fields, earning an impressive number of Nobel Prizes along the way.

‘Unfortunately, we have not yet found a cure for stupidity, ignorance and hypocrisy displayed by @IrelandFootball team coach. We’re not playing with ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity, We’re playing against the coach who embodies them.’

Well.

In my part of the country, we’d describe that Tweet (yep, it’s still a Tweet) from the Israel FA as showing ‘pure ignorance’.

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Never mind the utter rudeness of this public message, the – checks notes – stupidity involved is off the scale.

I have checked, double-checked, and then triple-checked – and can find not one single mention of a Nobel Prize having been awarded to the Israel FA.

If they mean Nobel Prizes awarded to people from Israel then even that is a matter for debate.

Of the 14 names listed only ONE was actually born in Israel. Two others moved there, one aged 9, the other 13.

So, let’s say three.

Five of the names listed were born in British Mandatory Palestine. Three more moved to Palestine from eastern Europe (two of those when aged in their 20s).

The other three were born in the USA, South Africa, and Germany.

Being kind, then, that’s 11 Nobel prizes for those ‘from’ Palestine/ Israel.

Not be sniffed at – and the same as Ireland, which has a smaller population.

Given their relative populations, one for Iceland (in Literature) is good going.

What the Israel FA HAS ‘achieved’ in recent years, however, is not something they’d be boasting about on........

© The Irish News