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Ireland squad to discuss protest before Israel games

Players will meet Friday to decide how to respond to calls for a boycott of contentious UEFA Nations League fixtures.

newest coverage 15h agosummary written 16h ago13 pieces NewswiresMastodonGoogle News

What to know

  • The Ireland squad will hold a collective meeting on Friday to decide how to respond to the Israel matches, with any decision made together as players.
  • The fixtures have faced major domestic pressure: 160+ Irish athletes signed an open letter calling for a boycott, and protests were held at the team hotel.
  • The FAI voted to fulfill the matches in July despite having requested UEFA suspend Israel; they cited risks of sporting sanctions and Euro 2028 qualification damage.
  • Head coach Hallgrimsson's earlier public criticism of the matches has intensified the controversy and drawn an angry response from Israel's football federation.

“It's the main thing and it's something that can't be brushed over. Whatever decision that we go through as players is taken as one and everybody's view is respected as well.”

Dara O'Shea, Republic of Ireland captain · BBC Sport ↗

Dara O'Shea Republic of Ireland captainHeimir HallgrimssonHeimir Hallgrimsson Republic of Ireland head coachFootball Association of Ireland (FAI) Governing bodyIrish Sport for Palestine Group Activist organizationIsrael Football Association Counterpart federation

Ireland squad to discuss protest before Israel games
BBC Football

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

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8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PMnow · 12:59 AM ET
  1. upcoming

    Ireland plays Israel in Hungary in first of two contested Nations League matches — The Republic of Ireland will face Israel in Debrecen, Hungary on Sunday as part of the UEFA Nations League, with a second match scheduled for October 4 in Serbia. The matches are being played at neutral venues due to security concerns.

  2. upcoming

    Ireland faces Kosovo; squad will meet Friday to discuss Israel games — Before traveling to Hungary for Sunday's Israel match, the Ireland squad will first play Kosovo on Thursday. Captain Dara O'Shea announced the squad will come together on Friday following that game to discuss how to approach the controversial Israel fixtures.

  3. 2

    Over 160 Irish athletes sign open letter urging FAI to boycott Israel

    The Irish Sport for Palestine Group released an open letter signed by more than 160 Irish sportspeople calling on the FAI to reconsider and withdraw from the fixtures. Activists also staged a 'Stop the Game' protest outside the Irish team's hotel in Dublin.

  4. 1

    Head coach Hallgrimsson says team will be 'playing against genocide'

    Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson stated publicly that they would be 'playing against genocide' and that 'none of us feel comfortable playing in these games,' drawing an angry response from the Israel Football Association.

    “We spoke already that we will come together on Friday and discuss it as a group…whatever the decision we come to as players will be taken as one.”
    — Dara O'Shea, Republic of Ireland captain · source
    1. 4 outlets Republic of Ireland players to discuss staging protest before playing Israel

      first by Yahoo Sports, 18h ago · also BBC Sport, BBC Football, BBC

      2 more headlines
  5. background

    FAI members vote to fulfill Israel fixtures despite boycott calls — In a vote of FAI delegates, 75 members elected to play the scheduled matches against Israel, with 32 voting to boycott them. The decision was made citing the risk of sporting sanctions and potential impact on Euro 2028 qualification.

  6. background

    FAI requests Israel Football Association suspension from UEFA — The Football Association of Ireland formally wrote to UEFA calling for the immediate suspension of the Israel Football Association due to the conflict in Gaza.