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

Virtue Signalling doesnt impact the world.

My conscience is clear and I sleep well at night.

The old whataboutery chestnut. If it’s Israel that should be banned how come USA aren’t banned how come Qatar hosted a World Cup etc etc etc.

Israel should be banned, maybe USA should be as well but USA or Germany etc not getting banned isn’t an argument against Israel getting away with not being banned from international football competitions.

The FAI are not in a good position financially. By boycotting the two games they are sacrificing approx €4-5m in ticket sales/income for the home game.

The nations league TV deal is reportedly worth 10m a year to the FAI. If they fail to fulfil fixtures its not unreasonable to assume some or all of that money could be withheld.

Thats €10-15m in income from matches lost from a normal total of approx €35m annually. Only last month the government agreed to a request from the FAI to delay a €1.5m repayment to the state from the Fallout of the John Delaney era and only 4-5 months ago they (FAI) made a number of people redundant.

So all indications are that a boycott of the fixtures would put the FAI in a precarious position financially and also their employees. I dont think that's a massive leap in any way shape or form.

The topic of conversation is whether Ireland should play Israel. I believe the FAI have no choice but to fulfil the fixture because they have major obligations which are heavily dependent on the fulfilment of fixtures. Some people want to make light of those obligations because they won't have to deal with the consequences of such actions.

I dont see how that can construed as supporting Israel or that I am influenced by people who support israel. I simply believe the FAI have to put their own financial position, and their obligations to their employees first.

No because I dont see how that work. You have no solutions.

Where does standing up for what is right begin?

You cannot explain though. Its just shoulda woulda coulda nonsense. Fixtures are set, contracts worth 100s of millios Of euro are in place for the nations league, the FAI have contractual obligations, but you you can fix it.

Jog on you spoofer

Can we get one thing straight here; a boycott is not what Israel wants. Israel want the game played. As long as they are included in international sporting and cultural events they can tell themselves that what they're doing as a state is justifiable. It's a comfort blanket for the genocidal murderous regime that is the current Israeli government that their sporting teams are allowed to compete in international competitions. When the Apartheid regime in South Africa had that comfort blanket of international sporting and cultural acceptance removed it played a role in the downfall of that regime.

It's much more important for Israel that Ireland plays them than picking up 6 points because Ireland didn't turn up. They want the match played with no protests, with fans at the game, with the game going ahead as if everything is normal. The last thing they want is the match not going ahead, the last thing they want is a cultural/sporting boycott of any kind because it could lead to further boycotts.

I think everyone understands the significance and the symbolism of a nation being excluded from international sporting and cultural events. It's why you see a lot of kickback against even discussing the game being boycotted from some quarters. They'll tell you that they don't support Israel's genocidal and illegal actions in Gaza but in the next breath they'll ridicule even any discussion around any potential principled stand and boycott of these upcoming international football fixtures.

Unless you can personally cover the financial losses then its just fantasy.

I listed out all the other countries that have played Israel. If there was a boycott it would have happened long ago. Too many countries have played them for Irelands refusal to somehow inspire others to follow. We'd just be laughed at.

Would you listen to yourself. You are making a fool of yourself. You are claiming to have ideas but refuse to divulge unless I agree to some fictitious nonsense.

You can fix the consequences of a boycott involving UEFA, the FAI, fixtures already set and TV contracts worth 100s of millions of euro signed and sealed. Whatever. If you cannot share it, You are just a sooofer.

I deal in facts and the real world. Not this fairytale nonsense that goes on in your tiny little mind.

It doesn't matter what i think about the middle East, Israel etc. My opinion wont change anything for better or worse. I dont need to think a Certain way to maintain a clear conscience or sleep well at night.

It begins and ends with the individual. Plenty of people out there (some on here) fully support Israel. Thats they're decision I am fully against the despicable actions Israel are taking but I think we should play the match. If I thought for a minute a boycott would in some way help what's going on I would absolutely boycott.

There is no feasible solution.

You think no protest should ever move beyond the level of an individual?

If everybody was like you, apartheid would still be in place and not just in South Africa.

If Ireland did make a call to not play this game the FAI would not be making that call in isolation, the government and the country would be behind them and they wouldn't suffer financial losses as a result of it.

Trying to figure out what motivates you the most; afraid of being laughed at, or afraid that a boycott of this upcoming fixture v Israel can even be discussed in a serious manner?