Republic of Ireland will play their UEFA Nations League games against Israel as scheduled, with the Football Association of Ireland confirming the 4 October home tie will go ahead in Dublin despite mounting calls for a boycott and pressure to move the match to a neutral venue.
FAI chief executive David Courell said the governing body had “no choice” but to fulfil the fixtures after consulting with government officials and An Garda Síochána, who advised they can deliver a safe event in the capital. “While our Federation and our members have made our position clear in terms of Israel’s involvement in international football, that has not been taken on board by UEFA,” Courell told RTÉ Sport. “As such they [Israel] are permitted to compete. And we have been consistent from day one that we will fulfil these fixtures.”
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Courell framed the decision as the only viable path to protect the sport’s long-term interests. “We, in reality, do not have a choice for a variety of reasons. We are in these posts and in these positions to safeguard the future of Irish football. And in this situation, difficult as it is, the decision presented to us only has one viable option — which is to fulfil these games.”
His comments followed a letter from the FAI to member clubs and stakeholders confirming the home match will take place in Dublin and warning of “serious consequences” if the association refused to play. The FAI has faced rising criticism since Ireland and Israel were paired in the 2026–27 Nations League following February’s draw in Brussels, with prominent figures in Irish football urging a boycott in response to the war in Gaza.
Courell said the association examined whether the home tie should be moved out of Ireland but concluded there was no formal basis to do so. “Any switch to a neutral venue must be on the basis of a formal instruction of safety and security risk. That is not the case,” he said. “The Garda Síochána have been very clear that they are confident in their ability to deliver a safe and secure environment to facilitate the game to go ahead here.”
In November, the FAI General Assembly overwhelmingly mandated the board to request Israel’s immediate suspension from international competition, citing alleged breaches of UEFA statutes. That motion passed with 74 votes in favor, seven against and two abstentions. UEFA has not suspended Israel, and Courell reiterated the association will continue to make its position known at European level while fulfilling scheduled matches. “We’re open to hearing any viewpoints that our general assembly have on the topic,” he said. “However, the reality is the games will be fulfilled because it is within the best interests of our football.”
FAI president Paul Cooke, in a letter seen by RTÉ, said the board could not take a decision that would expose the association to “severe sporting, financial and reputational sanctions.” He warned that refusing to play would trigger a six-point forfeiture, risk relegation to League C, damage Ireland’s seeding for Euro 2028 qualifying and harm the national team’s FIFA ranking. “Such outcomes would materially harm the long-term sporting interests of Irish football,” Cooke wrote, adding that while the decision is not financially motivated, “there would also be significant financial and regulatory consequences were we to refuse to fulfil the fixtures.”
Cooke stressed the association’s awareness of the human toll of the conflict. “No one within the Association is dismissive of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza,” he wrote. “While our role is to safeguard Irish football, we do not ignore the broader context in which these fixtures arise.” He said the FAI intends to use the home match “to provide tangible support for humanitarian efforts assisting civilians affected by the conflict,” with details to come closer to the date.
The announcement lands amid intense domestic debate. Former Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr and Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley are among those who have urged a boycott. The Professional Footballers Association of Ireland published a survey showing 63% of 214 respondents across the men’s and women’s leagues believe the match should not go ahead.
Security concerns have fueled speculation about a venue change. Belgium’s home Nations League game against Israel was relocated to Debrecen, Hungary, in September 2024 due to “security fears.” The FAI says its stance is guided by Garda advice specific to Dublin and the October date.
For the association, the calculations are stark. UEFA’s disciplinary framework provides limited room for unilateral withdrawals without penalty, and the FAI argues any refusal would reverberate through multiple cycles, affecting ranking points, seeding and, ultimately, development pathways for players and teams. The board’s message to members underscored a broader reality of international competition: national associations operate within rules and structures they do not control, even when domestic sentiment runs counter.
On the pitch, Ireland have not hosted Israel since June 2005, when a late equalizer forced a 2-2 draw in a World Cup qualifier at Lansdowne Road. Off it, the 4 October fixture will now carry layers of meaning far beyond a Nations League table. The FAI is braced for demonstrations and scrutiny; it has also signaled its intent to channel the moment into humanitarian support while insisting that sporting obligations must be met.
Whether the decision settles the argument is unlikely. But it sets the terms for the weeks ahead: a home match in Dublin, security-led planning by the state and the association, and an Irish football community still divided over what playing — or not playing — represents. For now, the FAI’s position is fixed. UEFA has made its call, An Garda Síochána has given its assessment, and Ireland will play.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
