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

Ireland going on a solo run boycott while other countries happily play them wont get them banned. It just hurts Ireland.

Zero chance of them being banned from international games. You're delusional if you think that. Have you seen the head of Fifa? . He's in the US, and therefore Israels pocket.

Anyway, the US are hosting the games ffs. Israel aren't a patch on them. Whey didn't they lose the world cup I wonder? 🤔

And you claim Ireland refusing to play of their own accord would get Israel punished instead.

UEFA would simply apply their rules and ban the FAI from the Nations League and suspend the club's participation in European competitions.

SIPTU would then be complaining about job losses, but I can tell you one thing for certain, those that are in favour of the boycott won't pay to keep those people in jobs.

They wouldn't be supporting a genocidal country, they would be implementing their own rules on failing to fulfil a fixture. These are the rules from the Euros, a similar rule would apply in the Nations League. No escaping punishment, it is automatic.

"30.01

If an association refuses to play or is responsible for a match (including kicks from the penalty mark) not taking place or not being played in full, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body declares the match forfeited by the association concerned. Moreover, if the circumstances of the case so justify, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body may impose any further disciplinary measures deemed appropriate on the association concerned, including the disqualification from the competition.

30.02

The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body can validate the result as it stood at the moment when the match was abandoned if the match result was to the detriment of the association responsible for the match being abandoned.

30.03

If an association is disqualified during the competition, the results of all of its matches are declared null and void, and the points awarded forfeited.

30.04

If an association that has qualified for the final tournament does not compete, the UEFA administration may replace it and, if so, decide which association takes its place according to the results achieved by the associations eliminated previously.

30.05

An association which refuses to play or is responsible for a match not taking place or not being played in full loses all rights to payments from UEFA.

30.06

Upon receipt of a reasoned and well-documented request from the aggrieved association(s), the UEFA administration may set an amount of compensation due for financial loss."

See 30.05, in bold, there will be job losses if we refuse to play, that is inevitable. Own the fact that you are putting people out of a job.

Most of your arguments appear to be centred on a belief that national sports teams represent national governments rather that national sports federations - and so national teams can be held accountable for the governments actions.

At the moment world sport is largely organised on the basis that national sports federations must be independent from their governments. Is this something you believe should change?

For example, in the case of soccer, do you believe Irish international teams should be fielded directly by the Dept of Communications, Culture & Sport and/or Sport Ireland instead of the FAI?

In past eras this was the case in some communist countries. But I dont think there is any appetite in the sporting community to have apply this worldwide in all sports, so your flogging a dead horse.

Exactly.

I don't think that poster gives a **** about the Irish football team tbh.

Refusing to play Israel would be a disaster for our football team, and would not save a single life in Gaza.

We're playing Qatar in a few weeks. Where's the clamour to boycott? Oh yes, we've moved on from them and Ukraine to Gaza where's there's more virtue signalling brownie points.

True indeed. However, it's FIFA's breach of it's own Article 64.2 and it's refusal to apply it's own governance commitments that is at the very core of this issue. If the FAI were in any way cute they would refuse and contest any sanction arising from boycotting the matches with Israel because FIFA themselves are ultimately in breach of their own statutes. Any lawyer worth their name should have FIFA backing down on sanctions.

(1) UEFA do not enforce FIFA statutes, FIFA do, so that rule is of zero relevance to the Nations League competition.

(2) In the case of that rule, have you any evidence that the Palestinian FA has objected to the arrangements?

(3) Article 65 provides

"Associations, leagues or clubs that are affiliated to a member association may only join another member association or take part in competitions on that memberassociation’s territory under exceptional circumstances."

Presumably, the precedent established by Derry playing in the League of Ireland would be used by Israel to justify the arrangements.