The Republic of Ireland will play its home Nations League tie against Israel later this year at a neutral venue.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have been under pressure to cancel the game due to Israel’s war in Gaza and its continued violence in the occupied West Bank. However, the association has taken the decision to fulfill the fixture outside of Ireland.
Ireland’s away game with Israel was already due to take place on September 27 at a neutral venue. The home game will now also take place at a neutral venue on October 4. It had been scheduled for the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
The FAI said that if they had forfeited both games the Irish team would have been deducted six points which could have led to relegation from League C.
In a statement the FAI said: “In recent months, the Association has been in communication with the Palestinian Football Association regarding the fulfillment of the fixtures and they have shared the following statement: ‘The Palestinian Football Association expresses its appreciation for the principled positions taken by the Football Association of Ireland in support of the rights of the Palestinian people and Palestinian athletes.
"The Palestinian Football Association also affirms its respect for the decision made by the Football Association of Ireland within the framework of its sporting and international obligations, in a manner that enables it to continue fulfilling its noble mission of serving football and promoting the values of justice, solidarity, and mutual respect.”
Reacting to the FAI decision Sinn Féin spokesperson on Sport, Joanne Byrne TD, said the FAI statement was “hollow and self-serving."
“Moving these games to a neutral venue – locking out Irish supporters in the process – is the cowards’ way out. Not only should this match not be played in Ireland, it should not be played anywhere while a genocide in Palestine is ongoing.
“The daily slaughter of Palestinian people, including footballers, cannot be ignored. Not by the Irish government and not by the FAI.”
She added: “Had the government backed Sinn Féin’s proposals (in the Dáil last week), the FAI would have been empowered to take a moral and courageous stance that, rather than damaging Irish football, would have enhanced the FAI’s standing.”
Opposition parties, former Irish international players, managers and supporters had called on the FAI not to fulfill the Israeli fixture in protest at the genocide in Gaza and Israel’s bombings of Lebanon.
Last month, Irish supporters halted the Republic’s game against Qatar in the Aviva Stadium on two occasions by throwing tennis balls with Palestine flags onto the pitch, protesting at the forthcoming games against Israel.
The Sinn Féin motion calling for the home game not to go ahead twas presented in the Dáil last week.
Speaking ahead of the debate party leader Mary Lou McDonald said: “Changing the venue of the fixture does not resolve the issue or the reality of what is happening in Gaza.
“Whether this game takes place in Dublin, Hungary or anywhere else is beside the point. The issue is that, as the people of Gaza endure starvation, bombardment, mass displacement and unimaginable human suffering, the international community cannot continue with business as usual.”
