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

dmcdona · 20-03-2026 08:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124327606#Comment_124327606

You should read up on what the ICJ does and what it can issue. There are differences. And it appears you don't understand them.

The ICJ consists of judges from many countries - including Israel. The ICJ has no part to play in what FIFA or UEFA do or don't do. They can only issue measures, findings, rulings etc. on parties to a case.

But the fact that the ICJ issued a ruling on the occupied territories last year and ordered Israel to leave those territories and pay reparations resulted in de facto evidence that Israel has breached the FIFA rule book. That's the case the FAI made. That's what the occupied territories bill is about too.

But bear in mind that FIFA banned Russia. What Israel has done is similar to Russia. The hypocrisy of FIFA is what is exercising people.

csirl · 20-03-2026 08:16PM

I see Cricket Ireland has arranged a ODI series against Afghanistan.

Tell me how · 20-03-2026 08:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124327889#Comment_124327889

You should start a protest. If you feel strongly about it.

Tell me how · 20-03-2026 08:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124327848#Comment_124327848

No state is a member of any aporting organization by that metric. Do you think the IOC, FIFA etc should never apply bans on participants from various countries?

That aside.

FIFA Statutes and Human Rights Obligations

Article 3 (Human Rights): FIFA’s statutes declare that "FIFA is committed to respecting all internationally recognised human rights and shall strive to promote the protection of these rights".
Article 4 (Non-discrimination): FIFA prohibits discrimination of any kind against a country, private person, or group of people on account of race, skin colour, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, disability, language, religion, political opinion, or any other reason.
Article 9 (Suspension): FIFA can suspend a member association for serious violations of the FIFA Statutes.
Article 64 (2) (Territory): Member associations and their clubs may not play on the territory of another member association without the latter's approval.

Israel has numerous violations of these statutes.

csirl · 20-03-2026 08:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124327905#Comment_124327905

Correct. No State is a member of any recognised International Sporting organisation and member National Federations are normally required to be independent from their governments.

The rules of any members organisation, including International sporting ones ONLY apply to the member Federations, not the States they are based in.

Re: the Russia thing, I'd advise reading the CAS case ruling

csirl · 20-03-2026 08:44PM

Which of these have been broken by the Israeli FA ( as opposed to the State of Israel)? And if any have, there is a process within FIFA to progress a cimplaint. And if complainant thinks FIFA is wrong, they can refer to CAS.

Tell me how · 20-03-2026 10:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124327939#Comment_124327939

Lol. Read the CAS ruling. I'm fine thanks.

Banning countries from participating in international competitions have long been a practice that has been used to demonstrate the sporting or music worlds for example are repulsed by the actions of those countries.

Countries (and their leaders/governments) love to glory in the reflection of the bright lights of sporting events (inviting winners to their offices, gatecrashing the medal ceremony etc) because they know sports mean a lot to people. So banning countries is a soft form of exerting pressure on errant governments. It doesnt always work, but is better than the alternative which is giving tacit approval to that country through engaging with them on national level.

You're dancing on the head of a pin trying to ensure countries aren't held accountable in this manner. Its telling.

csirl · 20-03-2026 10:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124328174#Comment_124328174

The facts are banning countries from sporr due to the actions of their governments isnt a thing right now and is practically non-existent in the modern world. Before you mention it, Russia was not banned by FIFA due to the actions of their Government.

If International sports organisations were to start banning members because their home governments broke various "International laws", we'd have dozens of countries not competing.

dmcdona · 20-03-2026 10:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124328225#Comment_124328225

I don't think it was just the Russian football team or federation that invaded Ukraine. Clearly FIFA were against what Russia was doing.

The Guardian:

"When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Fifa moved with lightning speed, banning Russia from all competitions four days later.

In a joint statement with Uefa, Europe’s football governing body, they asserted, “Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine.”

A Dub in Glasgo · 20-03-2026 10:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124328225#Comment_124328225

Can you explain exactly why Russia was banned?

Tell me how · 20-03-2026 11:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124328225#Comment_124328225

Wrong.

Screenshot_20260320_214709_Samsung Internet.jpg

Aside from this, FIFA has also banned Yugoslavia and SouthAfrica because ifbactions if their government.

The IOC has done it several times.

csirl · 20-03-2026 11:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124328320#Comment_124328320

Its in the CAS ruling. They were banned by the IOC for violating IOC rules. FIFA implemented the IOC decision. From the ruling, it appears that there were security concerns over some of the 'staff" travelling with Russian teams.

PeadarCo · 20-03-2026 11:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124328320#Comment_124328320

European countries on mass refused to play Russia. Everything afterwards is face saving, FIFA and UEFAs hands were forced.

The decision had nothing to do with morals or anything like that. It was/is all to do with Geo politics.

Unfortunately in the case of Israel, what's going on in Palestine doesn't raise the same type of existential fears that the war in Ukraine brings to the former Soviet block.

Expecting the same thing to happen to Israel as has happened to Russia is to completely misunderstand why Russia was forcibly suspended from UEFA.

Tell me how · 21-03-2026 12:22AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124328602#Comment_124328602

The decision had nothing to do with morals or anything like that. It was/is all to do with Geo politics.

The countries refused en masses because of morals for the love of God.

You think several countries just decided to pick on Russia like they were an ugly duckling or something?

PeadarCo · 21-03-2026 10:03AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124328772#Comment_124328772

They picked on Russia because Russia specifically targeted Ukraine and it was felt that Russia had designs on other countries in the former Soviet block.

Russia invaded Georgia, nothing happened, same for the war in Chechnia, even the first invasion of Ukraine. Countries rarely get suspended. A veil of morality was put over the decision re Russia but it boiled down to plain old Geo politics.

Paddy_Mag · 22-03-2026 09:25AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124327889#Comment_124327889

They are also trying to arrange games with the women's teams to face each other for the summer if its viable. I believe the Afghan women's team are in the UK for the women's T20 world cup, albeit they have not qualified.

JohnDoe2025 · 22-03-2026 01:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124327905#Comment_124327905

Those statutes are meaningless. For example, there are 64 members of FIFA where homosexuality is illegal.

There are more countries which have embedded discrimination against women.

None of them are banned. Once again, this is all about making an exception for Israel.

JohnDoe2025 · 22-03-2026 01:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124327830#Comment_124327830

The ICJ has issued Advisory Opinions, they are not legally binding.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjerjzxlpvdo

"The court's advisory opinion is not legally binding but still carries significant political weight."

I would believe the BBC and not a random internet poster.

Tell me how · 22-03-2026 03:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124332060#Comment_124332060

Stop using the word "exception" incorrectly.

Everything you find yourself starting to type it, stop for a second, think about Russia, and realize it makes you look like you're either ignoring reality, or lying.

If this continues to happen, maybe just admit you only care about what happens to Israel, and own that position and then argue accordingly.

Benedict XVI · 22-03-2026 03:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124331587#Comment_124331587

This is from RTE about the games v Afghanistan.

It seems that there was no legal or financial reasons for the games to go ahead but the decision was made for them to go ahead any.

Where is the uproar?

Unlike the soccer there are no repercussions for refusing to play Afghanistan, but Cricket Ireland are going ahead anyway, with just a promise that they will try to play the women's team as well if they can.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/cricket/2026/0320/1564405-ireland-agree-to-afghanistan-series-despite-discomfort/

Tell me how · 22-03-2026 04:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124332243#Comment_124332243

Where is the uproar?

Do you think there should be uproar?

You can be the one to roar first, you know.

dmcdona · 22-03-2026 04:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124332068#Comment_124332068

Well, if you read my post carefully, I wasn't posting about Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian Territories.

And I agree totally, I wouldn't believe a random internet poster either. They tend to only quote what suits their narrative:

"The UN's top court has said Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is against international law, in a landmark opinion."

As previously posted, brushing up on what one posts saves embarrassment and a loss of credibility.

DrivingSouth · 23-03-2026 02:16AM

I haven't settled my thoughts about the Israel games but it seems to me that playing the Afghan women's team would probably achieve more than refusing to play both men and women's teams.

Maybe cancellation is not always the best way forward.

Maybe it deserves its own thread, but what is the best non cancellation way of protesting?

Wearing a special one off black kit? Playing the Palestinian team the week before (even if its a fairly scratch team)?

I wouldn't be in favour of refusing to shake hands as that targets the players as individuals more so than the regime.

LowOdour · 23-03-2026 09:06AM

Owners think they timed it well with no home match for 2 weeks, but hope Drogs supporters vote with their feet and stay away from next home match.

https://www.the42.ie/joanna-byrne-drogheda-united-4-6992046-Mar2026/

JohnDoe2025 · 23-03-2026 11:19AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124332380#Comment_124332380

It's a landmark Advisory Opinion which is not legally binding, and therefore FIFA and UEFA are not bound to follow it.

dmcdona · 23-03-2026 12:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124334176#Comment_124334176

Once again, I suggest you read how the ICJ works. Until you do, you're destined to repeat your ignorance.

Tell me how · 23-03-2026 01:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124334176#Comment_124334176

As already been pointed out.

Israel already have and continue to violate UN Class VII resolutions which are legally binding.

The fact that you are trying to pretend the only relevant points here are ones that Israel does not have to comply with them in a legal sense suggests to me that the moral argument is done and dusted. You know their actions have been and continue to be morally reprehensible and so you are staying away from trying to justify that behaviour, and are focusing on the legal connotations (as you understand them).

Does that sound like a "decent" position for someone who is just an observer on this whole topic, as all of us are?

I'm curious, in your view, is there any time a country should act along moral guidelines, or should everything they do be as a consequence of definitive legal enforcement?

P.S. Don't interpret this question as there being no legal requirement for Israel to act differently, there is, I'm curious about your view on their behaviour asides from that.

JohnDoe2025 · 23-03-2026 04:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124334574#Comment_124334574

There are hundreds of UN resolutions being violated every day by numerous countries. Argentina violated UN resolutions in the Falklands and still played in the World Cup.

dmcdona · 23-03-2026 06:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124334974#Comment_124334974

Way to go - bring up an event that happened 44 years ago….

You must be aware of Israel's top position in the non-compliance with UN resolutions? Over and above every other single UN member.

Seems you can't bring yourself to condemn Israel's behaviour at all, even when asked.

JohnDoe2025 · 23-03-2026 07:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124335418#Comment_124335418

I am not condoning Israel's behaviour, all I am doing is pointing to the inconsistency in Ireland seeking to have Israel banned.

When Argentina were breaking all the UN Resolutions, we were doing the opposite. We opposed sanctions on Argentina for starting a war.

Some neutrality, eh?

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

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