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LAST UPDATE | 4 hrs ago
THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION of Ireland has confirmed that Uefa has approved a request to move Ireland’s home Nations League match against Israel to a neutral venue overseas.
The FAI announced the decision in a statement this morning, saying the match will also be played behind closed doors with no spectators in attendance.
Opposition parties have criticised the move, with the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign calling it “reprehensible”
The Republic of Ireland’s men’s soccer team is due to face Israel in the Nations League at a neutral venue on 27 September. A return game had been due to take place in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on 4 October.
However, there has been a growing ‘Stop the Game’ campaign in recent weeks calling for the fixtures not to go ahead due to Israel’s genocidal actions in Gaza.
In its statement, the FAI confirmed that Uefa “has approved a request to host the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League fixture between Ireland and Israel on October 4th overseas, in a neutral venue and behind closed doors”.
“Following consultation with various stakeholders, the Association is of the view that operational challenges could impact on the delivery of the game on home soil, so the fixture will be played away from the Aviva Stadium.”
The football association said it “understands and respects” the views expressed by players and staff, supporters, its members, campaigners, members of the public and the Irish footballing community in relation to the fixture.
It also said it had been in contact with the Palestinian Football Association over the fulfilment of the fixtures, and shared a statement from them.
“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,” it reads.
“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.”
The FAI said it is “deeply conscious of the suffering and devastation being endured by civilians in Gaza” and continues to reflect the sentiment of the motion that was proposed and voted in favour of by members of the FAI General Assembly in November 2025.
This motion was to issue a formal request to the Uefa Executive Committee for the immediate suspension of the Israel Football Association from Uefa competitions for a breach of its statutes. Some 93% of FAI members voted in favour of it.
The FAI said that while it submitted this motion to Uefa and had consulted with officials for two years on the issue, it recognised that it had agreed to competition rules and regulations.
These outline that if an association refuses to play a match, that fixture will be forfeited and further disciplinary measures may follow – including potential disqualification from the competition.
It said that if Ireland had boycotted the game against Israel, it would have forfeited six points and could have led to relegation of the team to League C of the Nations League. It also would have had a “direct impact” on Ireland’s Uefa and Fifa rankings, which would affect future qualification to competitions.
It also pointed out that the “converse” would apply for Israel, increasing its prospects of promotion in Uefa and Fifa competitions.
“Beyond the sporting implications, there would be broader consequences for Irish football, such as reduced capacity to support clubs and leagues through critical services such as safeguarding, educational programmes, and player development opportunities.”
The FAI said it will engage with its members at a forthcoming general meeting, but added that it remains committed to fulfilling each of its Nations League fixtures.
“While the FAI Board appreciates that the decision to fulfil this fixture back in February does affect many stakeholders, it would ask for consideration to be given to players and staff.”
The association also acknowledged that moving the game overseas will impact fans. It said it will update season ticket holders on ticketing arrangements once details are confirmed, which could include compensation.
The FAI Board would like to reiterate that its decision to fulfil the fixture has been made in the interest of Irish football.
Two motions tabled by Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats this week calling for games not to go ahead and for the government to support this were rejected, as a government counter-motion saying it was matter for the FAI to decide was passed.
Speaking on Tuesday, activists from the campaign said that moving the game outside of Ireland simply removes the right of fans to protest.
Reacting to the FAI statement today, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) chairperson Zoë Lawlor said the association had decided to “offshore this exercise in sportswashing Israel’s genocide and apartheid”, calling the move “reprehensible”.
“Moving the Irish leg of these games to another country doesn’t address the fundamental issue at stake, that is that Ireland should not play any game with Israel as long as that state continues to brutally oppress Palestinians,” she said.
The grassroots movement against these games will not go away – these games cannot take place anywhere if Ireland is serious about its opposition to Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Lawlor said it was also shameful for Fifa and Uefa to continue to allow Israel to be a member of their federations, adding that Israel “must be expelled from all international sporting bodies as Apartheid South Africa was before it”.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin’s spokesperson for sport Joanna Byrne said moving the game to a neutral venue “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 Louth TD said.
“The daily slaughter of Palestinian people, including footballers, cannot be ignored. Not by the Irish government and not by the FAI.”
Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman also said the fixtures “should not be played at all”.
Out of sight is not out of mind. This decision to play this game at a neutral venue puts the burden back on the players and the staff of the FAI.
“This unfair, and ultimately financial decision, to let a game that the fans do not want, to go ahead, is nothing more than sportswashing.”
Labour foreign affairs spokesperson Duncan Smith described the move as “a cop out”.
“We need to stop the game and be brave enough to walk away from the fixture. Too many lives have been lost as a direct consequence of the genocide Israel has waged on Palestine.”
Smith said that while the statement mentions the consequences of a boycott for Irish football, “the consequences of Irish football being complicit in genocide are far greater.”
He added: “The FAI should be brave. Pressure on this will only grow and football fans will be left with a bitter taste in their mouth should this match go ahead.”
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