UEFA's silence leaves FAI chief David Courell in a bind

FAI chief executive David Courell says the lack of decisive action from UEFA has placed the Irish association in a “really difficult position” as the Republic of Ireland prepare for Nations League fixtures against Israel in September and October next month.

Match logistics

The Republic of Ireland are set to travel to Debrecen in Hungary on 27 September for the away leg, before hosting Israel on 4 October in Backa Topola, Serbia. Both venues were confirmed by the FAI in its schedule for the Nations League double‑header.

Last month the FAI announced that no tickets will be sold to Irish supporters for either fixture. The September match will admit only Israeli fans, while the October “home” game will be played behind closed doors, meaning no supporters will be present at all.

FAI's internal decision

An extraordinary general meeting in July backed a motion to proceed with the games, and the decision was later endorsed by the FAI’s General Assembly. A vote of 75 to 32 in favour of playing the matches was recorded, and an oversight group of 137 members – representing grassroots, leagues, professionals and fans – now monitors the situation.

Calls for institutional boycott

Courell highlighted that the FAI has lobbied both UEFA and FIFA to remove Israel from international competition, but it remains the only federation out of 55 in UEFA to have made a formal request. He said the association “has publicly called for, and formally called for, Israel's removal from international football”.

"We are not looking for an individualised boycott," Courell told. "The distinction is that we are playing against Israel, not with them, and we believe change must come at an institutional level."

He added that UEFA’s response over the past year has been consistent: the body recognises the FAI’s conviction but must also consider the sentiment of the other 54 member nations, which has not yet aligned with Ireland’s stance.

Courell reiterated that the FAI will continue to raise the issue with UEFA and FIFA, insisting that “the decision rests with the FAI board” and that the association will offer support and protection to the players as the fixtures approach.