Ireland vs Israel - To play or not to play, that is the question Read OP for Mod Warning

csirl · 23-02-2026 01:56PM

You cannot unilaterally apply a set of criteria for boycotting a scheduled fixture to one football association if you dont apply the same criteria to other football associations. Otherwise the boycott is arbitrary.

For those abvocating a boycott, what are the X,Y,Z criteria etc that the other football association has to fall into to justify a boycott?

Also, what credence is given to FIFA rulings on the matter e.g. if a complaint that a FIFA rule was broken is not upheld by FIFA and/or CAS, what happens?

nacho libre · 23-02-2026 01:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124258706#Comment_124258706

There is nothing peculiar about seeking to hold Israel to account. I mean you wouldn't in the Ukraine thread crib about people critical of Russia having a particular fixation on Russia and having an affinity with anti Russia sentiment. You also wouldn't play the whataboutism game to try and minimise the actions of Russia either.

You engage in this deflection tactic because you simply don't like criticism of Israel. Which is also why you support interventions to stop the killing of civilans only selectively .

Also isn't it a rather poor defense if you have to compare a state you deem to be a democracy to the likes of North Korea in order to try and defend it.

Tell me how · 23-02-2026 02:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259044#Comment_124259044

X,Y,Z criteria etc that the other football association has to fall into to justify a boycott?

This is a nonsense question on what is a casual discussion board. I'm not going to list items specifically just so you or anyone else can look to invalidate the argument with respect to a possible ban by saying "Well what about this country, what about that one etc".

We are casual observers entitled to voice opinions and preferences on this topic without the topic being discounted because you are anyone else feels that it doesn't warrant discussion because of some criteria.

What we know for a fact is that Israeli senior people (including it's PM) are wanted by the ICC for various crimes. It is accepted widely by reputable institutions that Israel has carried out a Genocide on Palestine and also that it continues to persecute Palestinian civilians. And we also know that it has been facilitated in these actions by the governments of western countries and the EU. And, Ireland has long had a particular affinity with the struggle of the Palestinian people.

I am discounting FIFA's influence almost entirely with respect to whether or not a boycott of the match should be considered. Infantino's kowtowing to Trump and aligning himself (and by definition FIFA) entirely with the subjugation of the Palestinian people, if anything their behaviour is partly why Ireland should consider boycotting the game.

csirl · 23-02-2026 03:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259138#Comment_124259138

The Israeli FA is not the Israeli Government - same as the FAI is not the Irish Government. In fact FIFA has rules forbidding political interference in member organisations.

You may think it pedantic, but you cannot advocate for a ban unless you consider the wider picture and environment.

Dont shoot the messager here, Im just pointing out the facts. If you want the Israeli FA suspended from competitions, you need to base it on something that they (not the Israeli government) have done.

Otherwise the consequence of your actiions will be:

FAI suspended by FIFA for not fulfilling fixtures.
FAI to be punished for bringing politics into the sport.

My guess is that we would likely be suspended for a couple of years. This wont just impact the NT, but also the LOI, who's clubs heavily depend on UEFA solidarity payments and participating in European club competitions.

It wont be "aw shucks.......the Israelis get the points for those games and everything continues as normal.".

It should be for the FAI members to decide what they want to do as they, not the casual fan, will have to live with the consequences.

trashcan · 23-02-2026 03:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259322#Comment_124259322

Daniel Lambert of Bohs has set out how the Israelis are in breach of UEFA statutes, by virtue of having teams playing in occupied territories (six or seven - I've seen both numbers quoted). The penalty is suspension or expulsion. So there is your justification right there. UEFA are refusing to apply their own rules.

JohnDoe2025 · 23-02-2026 03:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259053#Comment_124259053

Well, let's just leave the comparisons to the countries that we have volunteered to play sport against - Afghanistan, Qatar - in recent years, as this thread is about what countries our national team should play.

Can you explain to me why the FAI choose voluntarily to play soccer against Qatar, a country which killed 20,000 people building stadia, or why Cricket Ireland choose voluntarily to play cricket against the home of the Taliban, a regime which doesn't let girls be educated, look out a window or even leave their homes alone?

I don't think we should play Qatar in a friendly. If we end up drawn against them or Iran in a World Cup, yes, we should play them, but we should be very careful about who we wish to play. If we want Ireland to regularly avoid playing Israel in competitive fixtures, perhaps we should withdraw from UEFA and apply to join CONCACAF, and you could pursue a boycott against the US.

This thread is about a sporting match, and a comparison between who we choose to play in friendlies and who we are compelled to play in competitions is in order.

My opinion is that we should not voluntarily organise friendlies against the likes of Israel, Qatar and Afghanistan, but where we are drawn against them in competitive fixtures, like this match against Israel, or the recent match against Afghanistan in the U-19 Cricket World Cup, then we should fulfil those fixtures. It seems your opinion is that we should play any match against any despotic regime other than Israel.

JohnDoe2025 · 23-02-2026 03:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259397#Comment_124259397

I have just said that we shouldn't organise a friendly match against Israel, Qatar or Afghanistan because of their regimes, that is the subject of this thread - who to play sports against, isn't it?

It isn't just another bash Israel thread, which some seem to want to turn it into.

Maybe discuss the points I make, rather than look for something off-topic.

walshb · 23-02-2026 03:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124257428#Comment_124257428

These Gaza Palestine protests here are not protesting for peace. They are 100 percent taking sides as anti-Israel. I don’t think I have seen any one of these so caring and compassionate protesters be in any way balanced and inclusive.

It’s an incessant anti/Israel stance, and still at it during a ceasefire. Have you seen any banners/placards/calls for Hamas terrorists to leave Palestine? Any calls to Palestinians to completely reject and denounce Hamas? No, you haven’t; because these protesters here don’t care about the real problem, the real danger to Gaza, terrorists governing!

They are far too preoccupied with completely taking one side. That’s not sincere care or compassion. And now they’re pretending to be outraged that Ireland will play a soccer match against Israel…they’re not fooling me

Playing the matches will be a lot more helpful than not playing.. but these protesters don’t care about this. They’re too entrenched in taking sides

Anyway, we’re just going around in circles at this stage. There is already an Israel thread on the forum. Play the matches. My last post!!!

Rocket_GD · 23-02-2026 03:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259402#Comment_124259402

It is very much on topic as the reasons people oppose the match is due to the actions of the Israeli government/IDF.

Can you condemn these actions without discussing other regions?

JohnDoe2025 · 23-02-2026 03:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259429#Comment_124259429

I have clearly said that a friendly match against Israel shouldn't organised, but that competitive matches should be player. I have given my reasons for the difference, and have said that should be a general rule for others like Qatar and Afghanistan as well.

I don't need to say anything more on the topic of this thread.

Do you think the Irish cricket team should organise friendlies against Afghanistan like they did in the past?

JohnDoe2025 · 23-02-2026 03:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259472#Comment_124259472

No, I am sticking to the topic under discussion, under what circumstances should a sports match take place.

On the rest I am doing a Gerry Adams, not getting involved in the politics of condemnation.

Leg End Reject · 23-02-2026 04:00PM

Mod - take the general discussion to the relevant threads

Enduro · 23-02-2026 04:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259378#Comment_124259378

What Danial Lambert of Bohs sets out is neither here nor there. It has as much impact on reality as my opinion of whether the Israeli FA has broken UEFA rules (i.e Sweet Fanny Adams). What UEFA decides is actually what counts. That's the reality of the situation. So currently, the Israeli football association has not been found to be in breach of UEFA rules, according to your post.

JohnDoe2025 · 23-02-2026 04:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259496#Comment_124259496

Agreed, Ireland should be pushing for a decision from UEFA, but until that arrives, and the inevitable appeal by the losing side to the CAS, we should continue playing competitive matches.

Tell me how · 23-02-2026 04:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259322#Comment_124259322

The Israeli FA is not the Israeli Government - same as the FAI is not the Irish Government. In fact FIFA has rules forbidding political interference in member organisations.
You may think it pedantic, but you cannot advocate for a ban unless you consider the wider picture and environment.
Dont shoot the messager here, Im just pointing out the facts. If you want the Israeli FA suspended from competitions, you need to base it on something that they (not the Israeli government) have done.

All of this is redundant by virtue of the fact that Russia was banned by UEFA in 2022. 13 countries have been banned by the IOC at various times in the last 100 years or so (including South Africa for Apartheid…)

Otherwise the consequence of your actiions will be:
FAI suspended by FIFA for not fulfilling fixtures.
FAI to be punished for bringing politics into the sport.
My guess is that we would likely be suspended for a couple of years. This wont just impact the NT, but also the LOI, who's clubs heavily depend on UEFA solidarity payments and participating in European club competitions.
It wont be "aw shucks.......the Israelis get the points for those games and everything continues as normal.".

You don't know what the outcome will be. It could be some of the above, but you don't know. Note UEFA has been accused to the ICC of being complicit in Israels mistreatment of Palestine recently and they may recognize that they finally need to act with respect to the behaviour of the country.

It should be for the FAI members to decide what they want to do as they, not the casual fan, will have to live with the consequences.

The casual fan isn't deciding, they are expressing an opinion, as they are entitled to do.

Tell me how · 23-02-2026 04:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259496#Comment_124259496

Going slightly off topic for a second, but not by much. Do you think Mason Greenwood should be welcomed back to Man Utd?

I'll go ahead and give you my answer and say no. He hasn't been found guilty of anything, but everyone knows the evidence of what it is he is suggested to have done.

Not too dissimilar from Israel in that respect, if anything the evidence of Israel is much more damning and the outcome of their actions obviously much more severe.

Waiting until the law treads is path is appropriate in some cases, in more, it isn't.

JohnDoe2025 · 23-02-2026 04:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259538#Comment_124259538

Very different cases.

Manchester United are not required under any competition to take Greenwood back, they can voluntarily decide to loan, transfer or release him.

FAI are required to complete fixtures assigned by UEFA.

Tell me how · 23-02-2026 04:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259550#Comment_124259550

That's avoiding the question, which I take as recognizing the point I was making.

JohnDoe2025 · 23-02-2026 04:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259561#Comment_124259561

Not really, Manchester United shouldn't volunteer to take Greenwood back, and Ireland shouldn't volunteer to play a friendly against Israel, that is the relevant comparison.

If nobody wants Greenwood, United will still be contractually required to pay his wages, but they don't have to play him or put him in the squad. Similarly, the FAI are contractually required to fulfil competitive fixtures against Israel.

Cyclingtourist · 23-02-2026 04:42PM

It's the Republic of Ireland soccer team playing the Israel soccer team. Playing the games or not playing them is a matter for the soccer governing bodies.

People can have opinions but at the end of the day it's not their decision.

Enduro · 23-02-2026 05:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259538#Comment_124259538

I was making the specific point that the opinion of anyone outside of UEFA (or any appeal court, should their decision be appealed) is neither here nor there, no matter who it is from, whether that be the owner of an FAI club, or a relative nobody on the internet (i.e. me). It's UEFA's decision that counts, irrespective of anybody in Ireland's opinion, WRT whether the Israeli FA are breaking UEFA rules.

I have not expressed an opinion as to whether the Israeli FA are breaking UEFA rules, due to (a) not having enough knowledge and (b) that being completely and utterly irrelevant to the point I'm making.

My opinion on Mason Greenwood (who I know nothing about, and could not be arsed finding out, in order to answer a hypothetical off-topic question) is equally neither here nor there.

csirl · 23-02-2026 05:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259525#Comment_124259525

Where Russia and other countries were banned or suspended, their sports governing bodies were found to have broken rules or were not able to conply with the governing rules.

JohnDoe2025 · 23-02-2026 05:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259630#Comment_124259630

Congo and Pakistan were suspended as well recently, couldn't take part in WC qualifiers.

We would be a candidate for suspension if we refused to play Israel. As others have said, the biggest losers would be LOI clubs which couldn't participate in European competitions.

csirl · 23-02-2026 05:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259378#Comment_124259378

If Bohs believe that rules were broken, then Bohs, as a member of the sport, can make a complaint - no need to discuss boycotts.

Have Bohs made a formal conplaint and what was the outcome?

Note that if Bohs were unhappy with the outcome, they have the option of going to CAS, who are completely independent.

Tell me how · 23-02-2026 05:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259569#Comment_124259569

Again, that's focusing on the technical legality of the situation as opposed to the moral considerations which is why he was loaned out in the first place.

And he is a Marseille player now, there is no obligation from United towards him, the question was focusing on the moral viewpoint.

Tell me how · 23-02-2026 05:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259630#Comment_124259630

I don't think so.

Link

In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several nations, including Albania, England, Scotland, Wales, and Russia's 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off opponents Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic, said they would refuse to play Russia.
On 27 February, FIFA initially announced a ban on any international competition being played in Russia, with any "home" matches having to be played on neutral territory behind closed doors, and ordered that Russia compete under the name of the Russian Football Union (RFU) and without being allowed to display the Russian flag or play the Russian national anthem. This followed a decision taken by UEFA two days prior that stripped Saint Petersburg of hosting the 2022 UEFA Champions League final, which had been due to be held at Krestovsky Stadium, in addition to banning any UEFA-sanctioned matches from occurring in Russia.
The decision was criticized by many as inadequate, and the next day FIFA and UEFA relented and issued blanket bans on Russian participation in international football, effectively barring them from participating in the 2022 World Cup qualifying play-off.

It was because of initially the refusal of Poland and then Sweden and Czech Republic to play them, and then after the initial restrictions were seen as inadequate, they were fully banned.

Ireland could be the Poland in this instance.

CatFromHue · 23-02-2026 05:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259642#Comment_124259642

Not just the clubs but the FAI itself. Suspension, meaning loss of income from the home games, and possible loss of funding from UEFA. The FAI as an organisation that's already struggling financial could be facing some severe problems if we boycott the game.

Tell me how · 23-02-2026 05:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259628#Comment_124259628

I was making the specific point that the opinion of anyone outside of UEFA (or any appeal court, should their decision be appealed) is neither here nor there, no matter who it is from, whether that be the owner of an FAI club, or a relative nobody on the internet (i.e. me). It's UEFA's decision that counts, irrespective of anybody in Ireland's opinion, WRT whether the Israeli FA are breaking UEFA rules.
I have not expressed an opinion as to whether the Israeli FA are breaking UEFA rules, due to (a) not having enough knowledge and (b) that being completely and utterly irrelevant to the point I'm making.

UEFA are possibly complicit in facilitating Israel's actions with respect to persecuting the Palestinians. They, along with FIFA have been reported to the ICC for this fact.

My opinion on Mason Greenwood (who I know nothing about, and could not be arsed finding out, in order to answer a hypothetical off-topic question) is equally neither here nor there.

Anyone who professes to know enough about football and rules within would also know in detail the relevance of mentioning the Mason Greenwood situation in the context of this discussion. If you are to be believed on this last point, your first points can be discounted almost entirely.

Enduro · 23-02-2026 05:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259683#Comment_124259683

I expressed no opinion on the morality of any of these situations in any way.

I pointed out the actual reality that the only opinion that counts as to whether the Israeli FA are breaking UEFA's rules is UEFA's opinion. The opinions of an FAI club owner, or nobodies on the internet like us, are just noise.

Could you please try to understand that, and not try to infer something I have not said. I don't claim to know all of UEFA's rules, unlike what you are saying. I do know who has the power to decide on whether those rules are broken or not, and, surprise surprise, it is UEFA who has the power to decide on the implemention of their own rules. I will happily engage with you if you have a disagreement with that point. I will not be responding to irrelevant hypothetical off-topic moralising, whether you like it or not.

Tell me how · 23-02-2026 06:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124259730#Comment_124259730

Could you please try to understand that

I can understand what you are trying to do easily. It isn't complicated. But I think it is irrelevant in the context of this discussion on this forum on this site.

No one taking part in this discussion will be making the actual decision on whether or not this game goes ahead. But in the same way, there are many topics which are discussed in general and in various different contexts in the public space and these are appropriate conversations to have. When we talk about having "national conversations" about topics, is this is part of what that conversation looks like.

I don't care whether you respond/engage or not, but I am going to respond to your posts on this topic, if I wish, in the context and location in which this discussion is being held.

There is a legal forum on this site, you are free to start a conversation on the topic in this space if you wish. It could be an interesting discussion because there is a need to discuss how organisations set rules so they can then hide behind them. But it is an angle that doesn't interest me in the context of this topic so I won't troubling you there.

Ireland vs Israel - To play or not to play, that is the question Read OP for Mod Warning

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