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

Tell me how

Starting this thread as I think it is a topic that deserves discussion and don't feel it would be fair to have much of that discussion in the Ireland Football thread and the topic might get lost within the main Israel Thread.

Ireland have been drawn to play Israel in the Nations League football with the games scheduled to take play in autumn.

Already there has been significant commentary about whether or not they should play and the FAI have said they will fulfil the fixture. At least one well renowned person within Irish football, Brian Kerr has said they shouldn't play them because of what they have done and are doing to Palestine in general and Gaza in particular.

For people who want to dismiss this entire topic with "Politics shouldn't be involved in sport". I disagree. Politics and sports have long been intertwined and even now, the FA does so with the Poppy remembrance every year, the US does it every Autumn with military displays at games and flyovers occur at games regularly and organisations like the IOC, UEFA and more stepped in immediately to ban Russia because of its actions in Ukraine. And the FIFA president, Infantino has gone out of his way to involved his organisation not just in politics but in the Middle East conflict itself.

What do people think? Play or don't play? Play and protest? Or just treat it like another game and put all effort in to hoping Ireland scrapes a win.

Mod: The topic of the thread is the Ireland/Israel matches scheduled for later this year. Not the wider conflict between Israel and Palestine. There will be some natural overlap for context but posts that go wildly off topic into referencing the primary conflict without at least giving an attempt to link it to this particular discussion will be deleted. I've already deleted a number of tangential posts that can be discussed in the main thread.

We are allowing this thread to continue at the moment as it is relevant in relation to Ireland (and the national football team) specifically, and this is an Irish discussion forum.

However, if posters want to drag up old conflicts and grudges with each other from the main thread it will be closed.

Thread Bans:

JohnDoe2025

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Paddy_Mag

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124291636#Comment_124291636

You sign up to the army, you accept the risk that you get deployed somewhere dangerous.

Its a bit like a fat man who eats too much chocolate and cake complaining about chocolate and cake making you fat.

HanShotFirst

https://www.irishtimes.com/world/middle-east/2026/03/06/iran-latest-live-updates-israel-dubai-drones/

Even if the heroic Irish UN troops die it won’t change some people’s minds here.

Hope they keep safe.

Paddy_Mag

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124291591#Comment_124291591

The FAI called for a ban, they got no support. UEFA chickened out of a ban and i suspect its because ISRAEL have some power at that level. The FAI have done all they can, the FAI committing financial suicide isnt going to solve the Middle East issues. Its pointless virtue signalling. It wont change anything.

I dont see what a boycott will achieve. If the FAI had support from the 50 odd association in UEFA, where was it 4 or 5 months ago? I doubt they will get much support if they boycott the games.

Benedict XVI

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124291566#Comment_124291566

What are you even doing here ?

Why aren't you on the front lines in Gaza ?

Where are your priorities?

Paddy_Mag

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124291566#Comment_124291566

Have the government said they will pay? No.

The issue isnt potential fines. Matches drive income. No home game means no €4-5m in Ticket sales. No home or away game and that means no TV rights money. The FAI boycotting 2 games means TV rights aren't paid. Thats the real world

The FAI actually do need money to pay wages. Thats the reality. The employees of the FAI have bills to pay, rent, mortgages, food etc. Thats reality for them. Thats the real fcuking world. Its not my fault you are too thick to grasp the reality.

The real world is accepting that bad sh1t happens every day around the world but the bills keep coming. They need paying.

Benedict XVI

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124291591#Comment_124291591

being oppressed, mistreated and subjugated

The kind of things that happens to people in countries dominated by Islamists like Hamas and Hezbollah.

Tell me how

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124291549#Comment_124291549

Presuming you are Irish, the life you live, has benefitted to some degree because of the work of advocates who did not want to stand for being oppressed, mistreated and subjugated.

Even leaving colonialism and oppression out of it, you've benefited in various ways because activists wanted a better world.

Thinking this has the square root of **** all to do with you is a blinkered privileged position you could do well to think about.

You still dont have to approve calls for a ban, but at least you won't luck as selfish with a different approach.

HanShotFirst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124291536#Comment_124291536

Yep you keep hiding behind the ‘real world’ excuses of FAI having to pay money!

It’s a terrible and awful excuse to do nothing

We addressed (government will pay, if there is even fines!!!) this weak excuse to you even before the strikes on Iran….

Now Lebanon…

How many must die before you realise what the real world actually is?

Will it be hundred of thousands dead? Or millions of dead before you say actually…there is something bigger happening here than the fai.

How many need to die for you to change your stance?

Paddy_Mag

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124291537#Comment_124291537

My priority is my life. I have zero powers to stop Israel.

Why should my priority be Israel/Gaza? Is has the square root of fcuk all to do with me

HanShotFirst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124291523#Comment_124291523

Oh I get it

I also get exactly where your priorities are.

Paddy_Mag

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124291486#Comment_124291486

I keep banging on about it because there is a significant cohort of idiots in this country who fail to grasp the reality that the FAI staff have bills, mortgages, rent etc to pay.

I live in the real world unlike you.

Whats happening in Gaza is horrific, but the FAI are not responsible for it, nor are in a position to stop it and commiting financial suicide isnt the solution.

Benedict XVI

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124291486#Comment_124291486

Do you not get it ?

Not talking for another poster but what do you not get about what they are saying?

If the FAI don't play the game, they lose the revenue from the game, they potentially face fines from UEFA and potentially get expelled from other tournaments including the 7 or so Euro 2028 games being taken from them.

The FAI are already cash strapped.

Losing all that revenue would put them in the poor house.

Where would the money to run the association from day to day come from, to pay the wages, to keep the lights on, to fund the grassroots ?

All because of a centuries old conflict a thousand miles away.

HanShotFirst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124289486#Comment_124289486

You keep banging on about wages

Failing to grasp the horror of what is unfolding

Keep watching the news

Paddy_Mag

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124289760#Comment_124289760

But has it made a difference to Russia's stance? No.

The Palestinians need Israel to stop the bombings not endless Solidarity

Paddy_Mag

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124289802#Comment_124289802

The dunnes workers is a totally different situation and doesn't have any meaning now. The world had acted against South Africa pretty strongly. I dont see much support from other football associations in UEFA for the FAI which is something the FAI have to consider.

Again, I never said people are oblivious to what is happening, but its far down the list of priorities, which it is.

Tell me how

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124290677#Comment_124290677

If you have a team of 20 kids, and there are two volunteer coaches who give up their time three times a week to facilitate those kids - who are the most important people there - I would argue its the two people without whom it doesnt happen.

I disagree completely with this take. I'm not suggesting that those people aren't important or to be valued and respected. But not to the point where they should have the right to exercise their will over the players on matters that relate specifically to the players.

One of the responsibilities they assumed in becoming involved as coaches is to work in the interest of the players. Same as teachers. The class couldn't happen without them, but the children are the most important focus in the room.

What I had a major major problem with was people who had nothing at all to do with camogie castigating the people who work so hard to administer the sport.

How do you know that any one commentator had nothing at all to do with camogie? Maybe they did, maybe their sister, mother, girlfriend, niece, friend etc is a camogie player and they were commentating to support them. Are they not allowed to do that?

And even if they don't have such a connection, can they still not express an opinion? That is what you are doing here. And me. And everyone else. This is how we have "national conversations" by allowing people to get involved in the topic. It's a much better option than the alternative where we gatekeep the right to have an opinion.

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124289928#Comment_124289928

Your wording is slightly off there.

They voted to propose a motion.

Has the motion been passed?

tayto lover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124283949#Comment_124283949

My conscience wouldn't allow me to accept playing a Genocidal nation. They ran buses to the border and had barbeques as they watched the children being bombed and they refused food and blocked it getting in. I hope it won't go ahead. Yo me it just normalises Genocide.

Tombo2001

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124290210#Comment_124290210

Well I'd disagree on a number of points.

If you take the Camogie

If you have a team of 20 kids, and there are two volunteer coaches who give up their time three times a week to facilitate those kids - who are the most important people there - I would argue its the two people without whom it doesnt happen.

And if you step beyond that, that team plays games every weekend, they are in a league, fixtures are scheduled, results are compiled, referees are administered, pitches are tended etc etc etc. And again this is all done by volunteers. Its unseen work, nobody gets thanked for it. But no games happen without these people. So are the players more important than them?

The players do the fun stuff.

Finally -I have absolutely no issue with players protesting, the players were absoutely right to make their voices heard.

What I had a major major problem with was people who had nothing at all to do with camogie castigating the people who work so hard to administer the sport.

So people like social media influencers, fine gael councillors, rte presenters. Or indeed the parents who put their 'my daughter and the skort' stories on facebook but never once bothered to help out with all the work involved in running a team.

Its very much what I would describe as 'punching down'. Or virtue signalling. But they never cared about the sport before, and they still dont.

Tell me how

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124290484#Comment_124290484

There is the matter of correlation, not causation. There are a lot of reasons why the general vibe in the US and around the world cup is not a particularly positive one. The cartel troubles in Mexico is just one one of them. The financing of security is another. The issue below is a 3rd.

Link

With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, fan group Football Supporters Europe (FSE) said it's increasingly concerned about federal law enforcement activity inside the United States.
"At this stage, traveling fans are left with little to no information as to what will be allowed or not at FIFA venues, or what to expect from the police elsewhere in the country," Evain said.
"There is no clarity as to what will be allowed in the stadiums, who will be deployed inside, which police forces will be working where.
"Reports that the U.S. has not yet invited visiting police delegations, or so-called spotters, which is unprecedented in the modern history of the tournament, only reinforce these concerns."
Despite growing concerns about the fan safety at the World Cup, U.S. authorities have not ruled out the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials at the tournament.

csirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124290224#Comment_124290224

This is nothing to do with wars, Israel or Iran. If Massachusetts doesnt want games, they'll be played elsewhere in the US.

Boggles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124290294#Comment_124290294

As for security threats, the like of ISIS are not what they used to be.

Iran spent a decade fighting ISIS. I doubt they will be a factor.

Benedict XVI

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124290224#Comment_124290224

Massachusetts is very like Ireland when it comes to things like planning, licensing etc.

It takes a hell of a long time to get stuff done, there is always someone objecting.

This will probably go down to the wire.

Benedict XVI

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124290274#Comment_124290274

I was referring to the "threat" of the World Cup not proceeding as planned, rather than "security threats" during the event itself.

I don't think there is a threat of games being removed from places like Guadalajara, but if there is an escalation of visible violence from cartels then they might be moved.

As for security threats, the like of ISIS are not what they used to be.

Boggles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124290142#Comment_124290142

The only threat to the World Cup will be the actions of Mexican drug gangs.

Given what is happening the Middle East and is yet to happen, it would be naive to think the only security risk in North America will come from the cartels.

Added to that Trump and his band of Ghouls have gutted the intelligence agencies that usually monitor these things.

Most extreme violence in the USA is from right wing extremists.

Or as we call them now. MAGA. Trumps base.

Tell me how

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124290213#Comment_124290213

Maybe. Probably. But the 8 games in Massachusetts are already raising concerns because the town (Foxboro) is being asked to from $8.5M dollars for security and they are refusing to do that without concrete evidence of how their investment will be underwritten. They have given the world cup organising committee in the US 2 weeks to give them the answers they need or they are going to refuse to grant the entertainment license needed for the event.

Not to mention the impact that ICE is having around the vibes that could ordinarily have been expected in host cities.

I genuinely hope there will not be any trouble at the World Cup. I am a long way from being confident that that will be the case.

Tell me how

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124290193#Comment_124290193

Based on the above, there is little chance of a FAI complaint succeeding.

I don't disagree with that summation. The plain fact is Israel has a lot of influence on organisations such as the IOC and FIFA/UEFA etc in a way Russia doesn't.

But the concept of refusing to play is still a valid discussion.

csirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124290159#Comment_124290159

But if games are removed from Mexico, they will be moved the USA!!!

Tell me how

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124289888#Comment_124289888

This is a brilliant example.

Your use of the phrase "judging the people who run it" is telling.

That topic drew public attention because the people playing the game wanted the option to choose clothing which would allow them to be less concerned about how clothing impacted their body and their experience of playing the game. Are the people who are playing a game not by definition the ones who are doing most for it?

But you seem to discount that to suggest that the people running the sport who didn't want the change in clothing should have been left to discount the concerns of the players and have things their way.

This concept of whoever makes the rules calls the shots and how that can be detrimental to so many people is relevant in so many topics affect in the current affairs space right now.

If the people who run things had been left to run things exactly as they wanted, we wouldn't have 40 hr work weeks, holiday and sick pay or maternity leave. We have all these things because advocates said action was needed.

csirl

If the FAI is unhappy with the outcome of its formal complaint (did they actually submit one?), they have the option of appealing to CAS. There are processes set out for complaints and they should be followed, rather than having a hissy fit and not playing.

Looking at the CAS decision on the FIFA suspension on Russia - it appears that the FIFA decision flowed from an IOC decision to suspend Russia and Belarus and was heavily influenced by several factors including travel bans on Russians, WADA (antidoping) issues and security concerns about Russian participation/impact on the smooth running of competitions.

The IOC has not suspended Israel (they were in the recent Winter Olympics), there are no travel bans on going to/from Israel, no WADA issues eand there are no security concerns that the Israeli football team may present by playing a fixture (i.e. concerns that the Israeli travelling party might be a risk to others, as opposed to risks to the Israelis themselves).

Based on the above, there is little chance of a FAI conplaint succeeding.