IT REMAINS TO be seen whether Ireland’s upcoming Nations League football matches against Israel will go ahead. 

The men’s team is due to face Israel in the competition at a neutral venue on 27 September before a return game in Dublin on 4 October.

But the ‘Stop the Game’ campaign calling for a boycott of the fixtures over Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza has grown in support, with former football players and politicians saying Ireland should ‘show Israel the red card’ and refuse to participate.

The board of the FAI met on Thursday evening to discuss their options regarding the scheduled games, including moving the game from Dublin to a neutral ground.

It came after Ireland’s recent friendly match with Qatar was halted twice by fans protesting against the upcoming games by throwing tennis balls onto the pitch.

The FAI has said it has no choice but to play the games, adding that a boycott “would lead to the forfeiture of six points” and could lead to relegation of the team to League C of the Nations League.

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson has previously said he would accept any decision taken by the FAI, but would “respect” the decision of any of his players who chooses not to participate in the games.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats will each set table motions in the Dáil next week calling on the government to support the boycott. Sports Minister Charlie McConalogue has said the government supports the FAI’s decision to fulfil the fixtures.

So today we’re asking: Should Ireland play Israel in the Nations League?