Ireland set Friday meeting to confront Israel game amid boycott
On Monday a small crowd gathered outside the Republic of Ireland team hotel in Dublin, holding signs that read “Stop the Game” as a reminder that the upcoming Israel matches are already a flashpoint. The protest underscored the tension that will be front‑and‑centre when the squad meets on Friday. It also highlighted the broader debate that has followed an open letter signed by more than 160 Irish sportspeople.
Friday squad meeting
Dara O’Shea confirmed that the Republic of Ireland players will hold a meeting on Friday to discuss how they will approach the Israel fixture. He said the discussion will only take place after the Thursday game against Kosovo, allowing the team to focus on that “massive” match first. O’Shea, who will captain the side in the absence of the injured Nathan Collins, stressed that the players must “speak openly” and respect each other’s views.
The team travels to Pristina on Thursday to face Kosovo, before heading to Debrecen in Hungary for the first of two Israel games in this international window. The Sunday match in Debrecen will be the initial encounter, with a second “home” game scheduled for 4 October in the Serbian town of Backa Topola.
Boycott pressure mounts
Calls for a boycott have intensified across Ireland, culminating in the Monday protest at the team hotel. The Irish Sport for Palestine Group issued an open letter urging the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to withdraw from the fixtures, a plea signed by over 160 Irish sportspeople. Despite the pressure, the FAI voted in July for the squad to fulfil the matches, with 75 delegates supporting the decision and 32 opposing it.
O’Shea explained that the decision to play rests with the FAI, UEFA and the Irish government, not the players. He added that the squad will stay off social media this week, trying to avoid the “noise” surrounding the games while keeping their focus on the Kosovo match.
FAI stance and future fixtures
Earlier this year the FAI wrote to UEFA requesting the suspension of the Israel Football Association because of the Gaza conflict, but UEFA rejected the appeal, noting the two nations have never been in direct conflict. The association also asked to move the Hungary match away from Dublin for security reasons, a request that was denied.
Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson previously described the Israel clash as “playing against genocide”, prompting the Israel FA to label his comments “ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity”. Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin called those remarks “unacceptable” and urged their withdrawal during a press briefing at the United Nations General Assembly.
Hallgrímsson later said he was grateful for the support he received after the criticism, while conceding that his earlier remarks were “maybe not clever”. He reiterated that the priority remains preparing for the Kosovo game and that any decision on a protest will be taken collectively on Friday.
The second Israel fixture in Serbia on 4 October will be played under a neutral venue after the FAI’s request to relocate the Dublin match was turned down. The association warned that refusing to play could jeopardise Ireland’s chances of qualifying for Euro 2028, which they will co‑host, and future World Cups.
The backdrop to the controversy is the ongoing war in Gaza, which began after the October 7 attacks. United Nations figures cite more than 70 000 Palestinian deaths, while about 1 200 people were killed in the initial Hamas assault and 250 were taken hostage.