Irish football team decides to play match against Israel despite concerns

Players from Ireland’s football team voted on Saturday to go ahead with a UEFA Nations League match against Israel. This was despite some concerns from players about the ongoing war in Gaza.

David Courell, the head of the Football Association of Ireland, spoke to reporters in Debrecen, Hungary. This is where the game will be held on Sunday. He said, "We carried out a vote amongst the squad to establish their sentiment on fulfilling the (Israel) fixtures."

Courell added, "It was a significant majority that was returned with the intention to continue." He also mentioned that the association decided on behalf of Irish football to keep the fixture, saying, "we have always intended to fulfil the fixtures."

Ireland is set to play two Nations League matches against Israel. The first match, which is officially Israel’s home game, will take place at a neutral venue in Hungary.

The second match, which Ireland was supposed to host on October 4, was moved from Dublin’s Aviva Stadium to Backa Topola, Serbia. This change happened due to concerns about possible disruptions and security issues.

Ireland has a long history of supporting the Palestinian cause. This support often connects to its own past with British rule. In 2024, Dublin officially recognized a Palestinian state alongside Spain and Norway. The Irish government has repeatedly criticized Israel regarding the conflict in Gaza.

Israel has strongly denied claims that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide. Since Ireland was drawn into the same Nations League group as Israel, many Irish figures, including athletes, fan groups, and pro-Palestinian activists, have protested against these matches taking place.

Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson told the press that one player decided to leave the squad early on Saturday. This player’s choice led to a delay in a planned press conference and resulted in the decision to hold a vote among the squad about whether to go ahead with the match.