Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson has said "it was not clever from me" following his comments on his side's upcoming Nations League games against Israel.
Hallgrimsson said last week that many squad members were uncomfortable about playing Israel, adding: "We're not playing with genocide, we're playing against genocide."
In a furious response, the Israel Football Association accused Hallgrimsson of "hypocrisy and stupidity" and the row has overshadowed the Republic's opening Nations League game on Thursday away to Kosovo.
The Republic are scheduled to play Israel in Debrecen, Hungary on Sunday and face their Group G rivals again in a "home" tie at another neutral venue in Backa Topola, Serbia seven days later.
"Maybe from a leadership point of view it was not clever from me, to take the attention [away] like this.
"Myself and the players need to be focused on the game. It's a tricky time for us. We are grateful for the support we get."
Campaigners stepped up their bid to convince the Ireland team to boycott Sunday's match in Hungary, with a group gathering outside the team's hotel in Dublin on Monday evening.
Over 160 Irish sportspeople have signed an open letter issued by the Irish Sport for Palestine Group urging the Football Association of Ireland to reconsider its decision to go ahead with the Israel fixtures.
Republic captain Dara O'Shea was sat alongside Hallgrimsson at Thursday's press conference and when asked if Ireland's players had any protests planned for the Israel games, he said: "We spoke already, that we will come together on Friday and discuss it as a group.
"I don't think we would be doing our job probably if we didn't put our focus into the game [against Kosovo.] We will come together and discuss it openly on Friday."
Hallgrimsson added: "[Friday's game] will be a tough match. I think the players are ready for this.
"We need to be focused, switched on. That is a tough task at the moment. But I think when it comes to the game we will be ready for what is coming."
