Shockwaves across the globe
Heimir Hallgrimsson wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card when it came to appointing the new Republic of Ireland manager.
After eight months of waiting, the FAI finally confirmed who their Stephen Kenny replacement would be as they unveiled Hallgrimsson.
The former Iceland boss, who masterminded them to victory against England in Euro 2016 to reach the quarter finals, was a shock to say the least.
Before taking over from Kenny the former dentist had been out of the limelight, managing the Jamaican national team where he recently left after a disappointing 2024 Copa America campaign in which they didn’t get past the group stages.
Jamaican TV presenter wants Ireland boss banned from the country
Not everyone has taken the news of Hallgrimsson’s appointment well, including some in Jamaica.
One TV presenter in fact launched a scathing attack of Hallgrimsson, who had been contracted to guide the Reggae Boyz to the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking on Television Jamaica, one of the biggest networks in the country, Oral Tracey even went as far to say that the Ireland boss should be banned from the country.
He said: “Former Reggae Boyz coach Heimir Hallgrimsson is now the coach of the Republic of Ireland’s national senior team,” he said.
“His official appointment comes days after he grabbed up all of his marbles and ran away from Jamaica.
“I think the coach disrespected Jamaica. He was contracted and agreed to pilot Jamaica’s 2026 World Cup bid and after two games he was gone.
“Obviously, he was in negotiations with Ireland so for those two first games in the qualifiers he had one foot in and one foot out.
“When you look at some of the team selections and subtitutions for those two games we have to wonder.
“We know people are prone to blame the JFF (Jamaica Football Federation) for everything – maybe so.
“But my gut feeling is that coach Heimir Hallgrimsson disrespected Jamaica and should be suspended from entering the country again.”
His rant was so extraordinary that Jamaican TV were even forced to put a disclaimer to clarify that they were Tracey’s views and not the channel’s.
