Ireland to play Israel Nations League ties at neutral venues amid protests
September 22, 2026 17:30
The Republic of Ireland will travel to Debrecen, Hungary, for a UEFA Nations League 'away' match against Israel on Sunday, with no tickets sold to Irish fans and a reduced television broadcast. The FAI previously voted to fulfil the group fixtures rather than boycott them.
KEY CONTEXT
- The FAI held a delegate vote in July on whether to play the fixtures; 75 voted to play and 32 voted to boycott. The association said not playing could risk UEFA sanctions and the loss of significant income.
- Ireland's designated 'home' match against Israel is scheduled for 4 October in Backa Topola, Serbia. No tickets have been sold to Irish supporters for either fixture; a small allocation is available for Israeli fans for the Hungary match.
- Broadcaster RTÉ will air a stripped-back version of coverage, with no commentators, pundits or half-time analysis, and it will not take advertising or sponsorship income, saying it will only "meet its contractual obligations".
WHY THE FIXTURES ARE CONTENTIOUS
The draws placing Ireland and Israel in the same Nations League group prompted calls for a boycott amid disagreement over Israel's military offensive in Gaza. Fans have demonstrated domestically: a friendly against Qatar in Dublin in May was twice interrupted when supporters threw tennis balls onto the pitch bearing the Palestinian flag, and various club fans have protested recent domestic fixtures.
Operational and diplomatic concerns influenced venue choices. Israel has not played a fixture on home soil since the start of the Gaza war and has used Hungary as a base for 10 matches in that period. Hungary has been viewed as a suitable host because of stronger diplomatic ties with Israel and its willingness to provide policing and security. The FAI gave no official reason for selecting Backa Topola; reports said it chose a remote Serbian town in part to reduce the possibility of protest and ease security management.
REACTIONS FROM PARTIES
FAI director of football John Martin called the games a "very uncomfortable situation for everyone." Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson defended playing, saying: "We're not playing with genocide, we're playing against genocide." The Israel Football Association described Hallgrimsson's comments as "ignorance, hypocrisy and stupidity." The Serbian foreign minister in 2025 described Israel as one of Serbia's "closest friends and strategic partners," and Serbia has purchased military equipment from Israel in recent years.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Ireland will play in Debrecen on Sunday and then host the return fixture in Backa Topola on 4 October under the special arrangements described above. The FAI said UEFA rejected a request for the teams to be kept apart in future draws.