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

FAI are 40m in debt according to the 2024 report. The 2025 report is not published yet. Usually not available until September or October as they have 9 months after the financial year end (31/12/2025) to file with the companies registration office.

Their income derived from playing matches is generally €35-€40m per year annually. The home game v Israel is worth €4-5m (tickets, sponsorship etc) plus TV rights for the nation league is worth approx €10m. Thats a €10-€15m loss of income as UEFA may withhold some/all for breach of contract. Also TV companies won't be happy as they paid for 5 competitive games in 2026. They may demand compensation. The Premier League had to repay £170m in 2020 as they didnt get the volume of games promised due to covid.

UEFA may also dish out further punishments. Like remove the Aviva from the Euro 2028 roster. Which effectively bankrupts the FAI.

FAI will also have to refund Season ticket holders, like me, as I signed up for 5 competitive games this year. That was the guarantee.

Only last month they made 50 staff redundant. So losing 25%-40% of match revenue points to major financial issues and they have no borrowing power now. The banks simply won't provide money any more. They are clinging on until Euro 2028 and the €25m they get from UEFA as a co-host. That money is critical to the long term future of the FAI and its ability to stay solvent.

Also, only 2 weeks ago the government agrees to delay the repayment of €1.5m loan from the Delaney fallout.

When income falls, and expenses dont, the end game is job losses, pay cuts, redundancies etc and I know that because it literally has just happened. Not for the first time. The FAI are in a perilous financial position. Thats the real world.

Pay cuts were ruled out as an option in November as they feared losing key staff who would seek better opportunities. But it did happen previously

Well the CEO of the FAI is fairly clear that there is serious consequences so i would go with the guy at the very heart of the decision making process as opposed to some random guy on the internet who hasn't a notion and is just guessing. You have nothing other then conjecture so its not really worth considering against the weight of evidence against your suggestion.

The FAI have already raised a motion with UEFA and nobody stuck their hand up to offer support. I think its fairly clear that the other associations who are heavily dependent on income from UEFA have made their position clear. I would also guess that UEFA have made their position clear to the members if a boycott happened.

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1324180416403874&id=offtheball

UEFA pay the bills. For most FA in UEFA that money is critical.

It won’t impoverish the FAI or lead to job losses there. They won’t be hung out to dry on this, the whole country will be behind them if it’s decided that the game won’t be played and that decision will not be made in isolation.

Have you anything to back up this that counters the CEO of the FAI? I have already outlined the Financial position, the financial losses which are inevitable. The FAI have debts of 40m, risk losing €10-15m if they boycott games at an absolute minimum and maybe more. They cannot pay bills, wages etc on the basis of moral support. They need actually money.

They have no borroming power anymore given the debts, the government have made no noises about supporting an FAI boycott and propping them up if they did. Very much the opposite in fact. The taoiseach even stated the games should go ahead.

Only 2 weeks ago, Munster rugby announced redundancies (10-15 out of approx 100 staff ) as a result of a €1m loss in the previous financial year. Thats what happenes when businesses lose money. And the FAI are hanging on until 2028 and the €25m they will receive then. But they have to get there, its over 2 years away.

Other nations have played Israel, only one Norway made noises about it, but the games went ahead.

You talk about ifs, buts, maybe. I am talking in largely known quantities backed up with a level of facts, quotes from people directly involved in the process who know the lie of the land and others who have a good insight into the situation.

You sure?

Literally One month ago.

That has nothing to do with these Israel fixtures. You’re conflating two completely different stories there.

I’ve said it before the FAI would not be making a call on this issue in isolation. This has nothing to do with the FAI and redundancies.

You can always find an excuse to not do something that is difficult. Quite strange that there appears to be a few posters here desperately seeking excuses and impediments to even discuss these upcoming fixtures v Israel.

The debate won’t go away and will intensify as the time draws nearer. It seems some want to forget about that the current Israeli government are guilty of genocide and illegal war crimes and people are dying and suffering because of that. Quite strange the overreaction against even discussing this issue. It won’t work, the debate will happen and will intensify.

These game will not pass off with a “nothing to see here” attitude. No chance.

Russia was banned for a variety of reasons linked to breaking IOC rules and things that were specific to their sports organisations. Read the CAS case.

Yes you already outlined all that. We know it’s not the exact same as the Russia ban but we also know that calls initially from Poland to ban Russia were not met with any sanctions against Poland, instead others joined them and political pressure lead UEFA/FIFA to cave in and ban the Russians. And yes we know Israel is different with different allies but political pressure on these sporting administrators does work, the evidence is there.

The “nothing to see here” comment is a warning to some like you who will be mistaken if you think that this fixture will pass off with a “nothing to see here” attitude. This game if it happens may happen behind closed doors or both games in a neutral venue like the Belgium games v Israel, or with massive protests that will have to be accommodated. That’s if the games happen at all and events between now and then might influence that.

The games are a few months away yet. Give it time Paddy, don’t fret.

The FAI did things the right way as well when they voted on a motion which they sent to UEFA. No one is suggesting that the FAI do the wrong thing here. We’re debating what more could be done between now and these fixtures in the Autumn to apply more political pressure on UEFA/FIFA to do their duty and abide by their obligations and regulations and do the right thing which is to ban Israel from international football competitions due to the genocidal war crimes of their current regime.

It’s good to talk. All avenues should be explored to exploit these fixtures to get UEFA/FIFA to do the right thing here. I think we are all in agreement that Israel should be banned? Aren’t we?

Do you personally think Israel should be banned from international football competitions due to the illegal war crimes of their current government?

I"ve been involved in sport for most of my life. Have volunteered on a couple of national and international organisations over the years. I even have experience of a couple of CAS cases.

The independence of sports organisations from their governments is a core principal in International sport. If you want to suspend a national sporting body you have to suspend them on the basis they broke the rules of their International governing body. The actions of their government are completely irrelevant. Nobody on this thread has provided any evidence of the involvement of the Israeli FA in "genocide" etc.

There are also two important principals prevail in International and domestic sport.

1. If you have an issue you raise it through the correct channels and respect the outcome/decisions made.

2. Sport is about bringing people together. Seeing players from different countries, cultures etc coming together and shaking hands before a match sends a powerful message. It helps break down barriers and fosters understanding.

This is amazing stuff. You are aware that the FAI in an EGM raised issues where Israel are in direct conflict with UEFA/FIFA’s regulations regarding setting up football clubs on illegally occupied territory.

You have been “involved in sport” administration you say “all your life” have you now, but are unaware of this? Amazing, truly amazing.

This isn’t about accepting “democratic outcomes”. Where did anyone say “democratic outcomes” should or should not be accepted? What are you even talking about?

This is about applying political pressure on the administrators of international football (UEFA/FIFA) to do their jobs and their duty by applying their own regulations and banning Israel.